GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- U.S. 131 in Grand Rapids is a “good candidate” for an additional traffic lane to alleviate rush-hour congestion, according to Michigan Department of Transportation leadership.

MDOT Director Paul Ajegba gave that assessment in a recent podcast interview when talking about the department’s use of “Flex Routes,” which are beefed-up shoulder lanes open to drivers only during rush hour.

“Quite frankly, I think 131 in Grand Rapids would be a good candidate for that as well,” Ajegba said on his department’s “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast. “We see (flex routes) as a tool in our toolbox that we can pull out and use where we think it will make a big difference. It’s a very cost-saving tool, to be quite frank.”

Flex routes are seen as a way to reduce congestion where space or costs prohibit constructing another bonafide lane of traffic. Only one highway in the state, U.S. 23, has a flex route.

MDOT officials say the U.S. 23 flex route has reduced commute times by 20 minutes.

Flex routes use traffic data and electronic signage to warn commuters of slow-ups and give them suggested speed limits to accommodate.

The signs also alert commuters when the flex lanes are open and closed, displaying a red “X’ when closed and a green arrow when open. Typically, the lanes are only available during rush hour.

Drivers can receive tickets for using the lane when not open.

Unlike the planned expansion of the U.S. 23 flex route and the addition of one to I-96 in Oakland County, MDOT officials say any rush-hour lane on both directions of U.S. 131 is far off.

John Richard, MDOT’s spokesperson for West Michigan, said projects like the flex route are based on statewide funding and priorities, and the funding just isn’t there right now.

“I wish we had the funding just to build another lane,” Richard said. “Since we’ve been underfunded for so long, we have to do everything piecemeal.”

If those far-off plans went forward, Richard said officials would likely want a flex lane added on U.S. 131 between I-96 and M-57, which is just south of Cedar Springs.

Officials might even consider taking the flex route as far south as Ann Street. Any further south on U.S. 131 becomes costly and difficult, as there isn’t enough real estate available, Richard said.

“It bogs down on southbound every morning and northbound every evening, especially on Friday when people are trying to get away for the weekend,” Richard said.

About 60,000 drivers use U.S. 131 between I-96 and M-57 each day, according to 2017 MDOT data. That figure jumps to about 110,000 daily drivers on U.S. 131 as it goes south of I-96 to Ann Street.

The potential flex route spans between 12 and 14 miles.

Grand Valley Metropolitan Council Executive Director John Weiss declined to comment on the potential flex route but said his organization, which comprises leaders from more than 30 Grand Rapids-area municipalities and Grand Valley State University, continues to model and monitor the area growth and congestion.

“We will continue to work with our members, road commissions and MDOT to monitor traffic impacts on 131,” Weiss said in a statement. “It is the primary north/south route through the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and the communities on both sides of (the) core area are experiencing significant growth.”

Richard said there’s no cost estimate for the potential project because the initial study hasn’t been conducted. There’s no timeline for that, he said.

U.S 23’s flex route, which opened in late 2017, spans 9 miles both ways and was billed at about $120 million, according to Aaron Jenkins, another MDOT spokesperson.

Former-Gov. Rick Snyder said at the time of its opening that an additional lane each way would have cost around $400 million.