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Buses began showing up on the shoulders of Interstate 5 on Tuesday, Oct. 19, in the Portland area as South Metro Area Regional Transit drivers begin training for the Bus on Shoulder pilot project.

Motorists will see the SMART buses on shoulders at various times of the day Oct. 19-21 and Oct. 27-28. The training will lead to the launch of a one-year pilot project beginning Nov. 1. The project will allow SMART buses to use segments of the shoulders along two miles of I-5 between I-205/I-5 interchange and Southwest Elligsen Road when traffic drops below 35 mph.

Last year, ODOT partnered with t...