Caltrans is studying whether buses could one day travel up to 140 mph on dedicated freeway lanes, a concept that could dramatically cut long-distance travel times across California.
Transportation officials say the idea envisions connecting major cities including Sacramento, the Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego through exclusive lanes, new transit hubs and express bus service.
One early proposal outlined in a recent Caltrans webinar estimates a trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles could take about three hours and 12 minutes at speeds around 120 mph.
The study, still in its early research phase, draws on international examples such as South Australia’s long-running Adelaide O-Bahn busway and the Netherlands’ Superbus prototype. Officials emphasize it is not meant to replace high-speed rail but could serve as a lower-cost, more affordable complement using existing freeway corridors once technology and infrastructure allow.
Current U.S. freeways are typically designed for speeds up to about 85 mph, so higher bus speeds would require major upgrades including dedicated lanes, redesigned vehicles, automated driving systems, advanced braking and vehicle-to-everything communication technology. Interstate 80, Interstate 5 and U.S. 101 are seen as strong candidates for interregional routes, while State Route 99 through the Central Valley could serve as an ideal starter corridor linking Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton and Sacramento.
Caltrans researchers note significant safety and cost questions remain, particularly around station construction, which would likely be the most expensive element. Some costs could potentially be offset by mixed-use development built over freeway sections. “This project is simply exploring long-term possibilities,” said Mehdi Moeinaddini of Caltrans. Ryan Snyder, also with Caltrans, added that long-distance bus travel could become “an attractive and affordable way to go between California metropolitan areas.”
No timeline for implementation has been set, and the concept remains conceptual with no construction plans or funding committed.
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