1st Interstate Highway Bus On Shoulder Project Comes to St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — You will soon see Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) buses driving on a portion of the Interstate-275 shoulder in St. Petersburg, a Florida Department of Transportation news release said.

This is through the Bus-on-Shoulder project that includes newly widened and hardened shoulders on both sides of I-275. Specially wrapped PSTA buses are also included in the project. Buses will be driving along the I-275 shoulder from Fifth Avenue North to Gandy Boulevard. The new service is expected to enhance reliable transit travel times between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties on PSTA's Route 100x, according to FDOT officials.

"This is the first interstate highway bus on shoulder project in Florida, and an outstanding collaboration with PSTA to enhance safety and mobility for our region," District Seven Secretary David Gwynn said.

When travel speeds on the interstate fall below 35 mph, the bus will have the options to enter the outside shoulder in authorized locations to avoid the slower interstate traffic, PSTA officials said. The bus will travel at a maximum speed of 35 mph and will never travel at a speed higher than 15 mph over general traffic.

For safety of drivers and buses, FDOT explained how traffic and Bus on Shoulder Signals (BOSS) will operate.

Traffic And BOSS:

• Vehicles entering, I-275 via on-ramps will need to yield to the bus if it is riding on the shoulder.
• To ensure safety and help alert drivers of oncoming buses on the shoulder, Bus on Shoulder Signals (BOSS) have been installed at the 38th Avenue and 54th Avenue interchange on-ramps in the northbound and southbound directions.
• These are similar to traditional signals at an intersection; however, BOSS have a red light only.
• When a bus is approaching on the shoulder, the BOSS will turn red, stopping oncoming ramp traffic for a few seconds.
• Once the bus safely passes the on ramp, the BOSS will go dark (i.e., turn off), and traffic can proceed as normal.

Motorists will get a glimpse of the newly wrapped buses during transit operator training in May and June. Full service will start in early June, according to PSTA. Privately owned over-the-road-coaches, and school buses are not currently permitted to drive on any shoulder. However, shoulders are still available for emergency usage during and outside of bus-on-shoulder operations.