In Bonta's view, faster, more frequent and more reliable bus service across the Bay Bridge would be a win-win.
"Congestion, and traffic, and long, slow arduous commutes — this is a real challenge for people in their everyday lives," he said. "If you create a efficient, quick and easy commute for folks, we're doing a good service for them, and they should have that."
The suggestion reached Bonta after he asked constituents for ways to make life better during the new legislative season.
"Maybe buses will become a more compelling commute option for more folks, maybe get them out of their cars, which creates more efficiencies for us as a community," he said. "When more people are taking the bus, it's better for the environment."
The bridge actually had bus only lanes in each direction decades ago. But envious drivers saw how quickly the buses traveled over the span. The drivers convinced transportation officials to make the lanes available to individual cars.
Bonta cautioned that his staff is merely at the exploratory stage at this point, and bringing back bus-only lanes might not be as open and shut as it seems. "We're finding out there are quite a few obstacles and pitfalls," he said.