GCRTA Presents Priority Service for Buses at NOACA Board Meeting;
Buses Would be Allowed to Drive on Highway Shoulder During Congestion

When you're stuck in traffic on a highway, you're probably thinking of all the things you'd rather be doing and how you're going to be late. Now imagine how 40 bus passengers feel when they're stuck in traffic. Isn't there a better way?

Giving buses permission to drive on the shoulder of highways during periods of congestion is one way to solve the problem. Joseph A. Calabrese, general manager of the GCRTA, will give a presentation on Priority Service for Buses to the NOACA Governing Board at its meeting on Friday, May 9.

This concept would allow the shoulder to act much like a high occupancy-vehicle lane for buses. Buses would be permitted to use the right shoulders only when the shoulders are at least 10 feet wide and traffic is going less than 35 mph, and they must go a maximum speed of 35 mph and use their four-way flashers. Signs would be posted that only buses may travel on the shoulder.

"Buses have had priority service in other cities, such as Minneapolis and Cincinnati, and there have been no reported incidences of cars following buses on the shoulders," says Calabrese. "This is a low-cost or no-cost way to make an improvement in the region."

Bonnie Teeuwen, deputy director of District 12 of the Ohio Department of Transportation, will also give the NOACA Governing Board an update on the Opportunity Corridor. The purpose of this project is to improve access between Interstate 490, the neighborhoods, and University Circle and also stimulate community and ecconomic development.

The best locations in Northeast Ohio have been identified as Route 90 East and West, Route 77 and Route 71. The demonstration project will be on I-90/SR-2 and is scheduled to start in June, and if it is successful, GCRTA may consider other routes if there are adequate shoulders. This is a cooperative effort of GCRTA, Laketran, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

In addition to hearing this presentation, the Board will consider approving NOACA's Fiscal Year 2009 Overall Work Program (OWP) and Budget. The OWP describes the transportation and environmental planning projects NOACA will work on from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.

The Governing Board meeting will be held on Friday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. at NOACA's offices.

For more information, call Gayle L. Godek, Communications Specialist, at 216-241-2414, ext. 283; or Steve Jones, Associate Director of Divisional Services, at ext. 352.