Buses operated by South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) will soon begin using the shoulders of Interstate 205 in Clackamas County as part of a new transit service. This initiative is modeled after the existing Bus on Shoulder operations on Interstate 5 between I-205 and Wilsonville.
Starting in February, SMART drivers will conduct training runs along I-205 between SE Sunnybrook Boulevard and SW Stafford Road. The full transit service is expected to launch on May 4, 2026, offering a new route between Wilsonville and Clackamas Town Center.
The Bus on Shoulder program allows buses to use designated shoulder segments during periods of heavy congestion when traffic speeds drop below 35 miles per hour. Buses can travel up to 15 miles per hour faster than adjacent traffic but are limited to a maximum speed of 35 mph. Operators must re-enter regular travel lanes before reaching interchanges or if they encounter obstructions, pedestrians, bicycles, or emergency vehicles.
According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), “Bus on Shoulder projects are included in ODOT’s Strategic Action Plan as important outcomes to reduce congestion in the Portland region.” Currently, there are two other Bus on Shoulder corridors: one across the Glenn Jackson Bridge in partnership with the Washington Department of Transportation and another on I-5 between the I-205/I-5 interchange and SW Elligsen Road with SMART.
Only SMART buses are authorized for this project. Drivers and dispatchers will receive additional training for safe operation within these corridors. New signage and pavement markings have been installed along the affected stretch of highway to inform motorists about appropriate shoulder use.
SMART’s upcoming Route 10X will provide north-south service between Wilsonville Transit Center and Clackamas Town Center via I-205.
In other states, similar programs have shown success in improving bus travel times during peak congestion without requiring major roadway expansions or high occupancy vehicle lanes. For more details about this initiative, visit the Bus on Shoulder website.
