Starting this week, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is rolling out its Automated Camera Enforcement program to four additional bus routes in Queens and the Bronx, escalating the campaign to keep bus lanes free from obstruction and improving travel time for commuters. Gothamist reports that the buses along the Q6, Bx20, Bx3, and Bx7 lines will start to monitor and eventually penalize vehicles that stop in bus lanes or at bus stops.
Fines, following a 60-day warning period starting Monday, will begin at $50 and may escalate up to $250 for those who repeatedly break the rules. The move comes as an expansion of an enforcement program that has reportedly improved average bus speeds by approximately 5%, hitting up to a 30% increase in certain areas, as stated by the MTA. The MTA has documented a 20% decrease in collisions and a reduction in the number of blocked bus stops in the areas where camera enforcement has been active.
The presence of cameras on the city's buses is not new. Previously, 39 bus lines had been equipped with this technology. Now, PIX 11 notes that, with the addition of these four routes, over 1,200 buses across all five boroughs will carry the enforcement cameras.
Enforcement is central to making the program effective. MTA officials noted that bus flow and commuter safety have improved where cameras are in use. As the cameras are activated on more routes, drivers are given a grace period to adjust. After that, fines will be issued to help keep bus lanes clear for public transit.
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