California’s infamous supercommutes could someday get a sci-fi makeover thanks to a new proposal exploring buses traveling up to 140 mph on the state’s freeways.
A preliminary investigation commissioned by the California Department of Transportation and highlighted this week by KRCA is examining whether futuristic “high-speed buses” could connect major metro areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego using dedicated freeway lanes and advanced automation technology.
Once concept floated during a recent Caltrans webinar estimated a trip between San Francisco and Los Angeles could take just 3 hours and 12 minutes at speeds around 120 mph, according to KCRA.
That’s dramatically faster than the roughly six to eight hours drivers can spend traveling between the two cities on Interstate 5 and Highway 101.
“This project is simply exploring long-term possibilities,” Mehdi Moeinaddini of Caltrans told KCRA.
The vision sounds closer to something out of a futuristic theme park than today’s California freeway system.
The buses would require dedicated lanes separated from regular traffic, automated driving systems, advanced braking technology and vehicle-to-everything communication systems capable of warning buses about hazards far ahead on the roadway.
Researched also examined international concepts including Australia’s Adelaide O-Bahn busway and the Netherlands’ “Superbus” prototype — a sleek electric bus capable of traveling roughly 155 mph on specifically designed guideways.
According to the Caltrans report, current American freeways simply aren’t built for those kinds of speeds.
“Current freeway infrastructure typically supports design speeds up to 85 mph due to limitations such as sight distances and curve stability,” the report states.
That means any real-world high-speed bus system would likely require major infrastructure upgrades alongside redesigned vehicles featuring active suspension systems, lightweight materials and multi-redundant braking systems.
Ryan Snyder of Caltrans told KCRA that Interstate 5, Interstate 80 and US 101 could serve as potential interregional routes, while Highway 99 through the Central Valley may be an ideal starting corridor linking Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton and Sacramento.
Caltrans officials also suggested some future transit hubs could potentially be constructed over freeway corridors to help offset costs, according to KCRA.
The prosal remains firmly in the research phase, with major questions still surrounding safety, cost and feasibility.
Caltrans stressed the concept would serve as a complement to raul rather than a replacement for projects like California’s long-delayed and over-budget high-speed rail system.
Still, the report argued the idea may not be as far-fetched as it sounds.
“The concept of 120 mph ‘freeway bullet bus’ is not science fiction,” the report states.
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