Caltrans investigates 140-mph ‘Bullet Buses’ between LA and San Francisco

Who needs high speed rail when you can have high speed buses? Caltrans is investigating just that: high speed coaches that could run on freeways at speeds as high as 140 mph between San Francisco and Los Angeles, potentially cutting travel time to as little as three hours.

Hoodline reports that the idea hinges on new dedicated freeway lanes, custom-built stations, and buses specially engineered for high speeds and long stretches, and that officials warn that the safety challenges and cost of overhauling the freeway system could be major barriers. 

"According to Caltrans, most U.S. freeways were built for design speeds of about 75 to 85 mph. Running buses at a steady 100 to 140 mph would not be as simple as posting a higher limit. It would require dedicated lanes, changes to roadway geometry and major vehicle redesign," writes Eric Tanaka for Hoodline, citing a report issued by Caltrans. "The report, requested by Ryan Snyder and authored by Mehdi Moeinaddini, lists high-speed-rated tires, multiple redundant braking systems, active suspension, advanced aerodynamics and vehicle-to-everything communications as basic requirements for safe operation." 

Read the full story, below.