Shoulder roll: COTA to breeze by traffic jams on I-670
We all hate to be stuck in a traffic jam. Nothing brings about feelings of frustration quite like looking at the rear end of the same Honda Civic in stopped traffic for twenty minutes or more. Beginning next month, many COTA riders won’t have that problem.
COTA is about to expand a program launched almost a decade ago allowing bus drivers stuck in traffic to bypass the congestion by driving on freeway shoulders. The change will affect routes on I-670 between the airport and downtown. Express lines will most often benefit from the change, meaning that those riders won’t have to wait with the rest of us because of some accident or vehicle breakdown up ahead. COTA drivers will only be able to take advantage of the option if traffic in regular lanes is moving at 35mph or less, and only if the driver would be able to beat that by 15mph on the shoulder.
COTA first began experimenting with idea back in 2006, allowing drivers on I-70E to use the outside shoulder. Now they feel comfortable enough to expand the idea…and they have ODOT approval. Workers will begin putting up signs next week to alert drivers as to where the buses are allowed to use the option. (jj)
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