Expanded Bus On Shoulder closer to reality in KCK

(Kansas City, Mo. – May 19, 2017) Bus On Shoulder will expand in Kansas, adding a 3.6-mile section of I-35 from Lamar Avenue through Wyandotte County to the Missouri state line.

On Wednesday, May 17, Governor Sam Brownback signed House Bill 2096 into law, bringing bus on shoulder in Kansas City, Kansas, closer.  KCATA’s next step is to conduct an engineering review of the I-35 shoulder in Wyandotte County, working in conjunction with KDOT and an engineering firm. 

Since 2012, buses have successfully used the shoulder of I-35 in Johnson County, Kansas, from 95th Street to the Johnson/Wyandotte County Line near Lamar Avenue. Expansion of bus on should will reduce travel time for bus transit riders.

RideKC buses travel on the shoulder of I-35 when traffic is slower than 35 miles per hour, bypassing congested areas. Transit vehicles are limited to traveling no more than 10 miles faster than the traffic on the highway and won’t exceed 35 mph on the shoulder. For example, if traffic is moving at 20 miles an hour, buses on the shoulder will be traveling at 30 mph.

Bus operators on the I-35 corridor go through enhanced training on how to safely use the shoulder.

Routes using the shoulder are the 519 Olathe Express, the 563 Shawnee Express, the 569 South Overland Park Express and the 595 Gardner-Overland Park Express.

“We thank our Kansas legislators for continuing to provide expanded opportunities to make public transportation a viable option for commuters,” said KCATA President and CEO Robbie Makinen.

Above: Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (center) signs House Bill 2096 into law. Also in attendance are Paul Snider (KCATA), Sen. Mike Petersen (Chair of the Transportation Committee), Tuck Duncan (Kansas Public Transit Association), Josh Powers (Johnson County, Kan.), Sen. Pat Pettey (Ranking minority member of Transportation Committee), Robbie Makinen (KCATA), Sam Desue (KCATA), and Cory Davis (KDOT). 

Below: Map of existing and future Bus On Shoulder.