New York Begins Issuing Violations for Blocking Bus Stops, Double Parking
The program is in addition to existing enforcement of cars blocking bus lanes on 14 bus routes equipped with Automated Camera Enforcement and double parking in real-time across four boroughs with Staten Island to be added later this year.
ACE builds on the many accessibility improvements New York City Transit has made to its bus fleet since 1993 when it became since the first large public transit agency to have a 100% wheelchair accessible fleet.
Photo: Marc A. Hermann
2 min to read
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) began issuing summonses to vehicles blocking bus stops or double parking. Summonses start at $50 and scale up to $250 for repeat violators.
The program is in addition to existing enforcement of cars blocking bus lanes on 14 bus routes equipped with Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE), which captures vehicles violating bus lane and bus stop rules, and double parking in real-time across four boroughs with Staten Island to be added later this year.
Ad Loading...
Early Impact
New York City Transit Sr. VP, Buses, Frank Annicaro rode the M34 Select Bus Service (SBS), and in one case, got off the bus to personally tell a driver blocking the bus to move.
When enforcement cameras are activated, on average, routes see bus lane speeds increased by 5%, a 20% reduction in collisions, and a 5% to 10% estimated reduction in emissions. Only 9% of drivers commit another bus lane violation after being fined.
All 623 buses on the 14 routes that currently feature lane enforcement technology on bus lanes have now upgraded capability to enforce bus stops and double-parked locations.
Enforcing vehicles parked in bus stops helps ensure buses can pull to the curb, allowing all customers to safely exit and board the bus including those using wheelchairs or mobility devices and those pushing strollers or carts.
Benefits of ACE
ACE builds on the many accessibility improvements New York City Transit has made to its bus fleet since 1993 when it became since the first large public transit agency to have a 100% wheelchair accessible fleet.
Ad Loading...
The ACE program is administered in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) and the New York City Department of Finance.
Once captured by the cameras, video, images, license plate, location, and time stamp information are then transmitted to NYCDOT for review and processing.
Since 2019, NYCDOT has issued 438,660 notices of violations. By the end of 2024, there will be 1,023 ACE equipped buses across 33 routes.
Each corridor with active ACE camera enforcement has signage indicating that those routes are camera-enforced.
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
During a safety blitz, Metra employees will visit one of the railroad’s 243 stations during the morning rush hour, distributing educational materials on train and grade-crossing safety, answering questions, and listening to riders’ safety concerns.
Operated in partnership with Tech Valley Security, trained CDTA Ambassadors will be on select routes and will rotate throughout CDTA’s route network. Their presence is intended to provide customers with an approachable, visible resource focused on assistance and engagement.
Customers have always been able to report concerns through the CATS Customer Service line or the “Report a Problem to CATS” feature in the CATS-Pass mobile app; however, CATS has also integrated a Text-a-Tip line, giving riders multiple, easy-to-use channels to get support.
The audit found multiple safety compliance failures at the Charlotte agency, citing elevated assault risks and ordering corrective action within 30 days.
While their comprehensive analysis of bus stops focused on Massachusetts, the researchers are excited about the generalizability of the findings and application to other locations.
The new filters include substantially more activated carbon than traditional HVAC filters, which is especially helpful in providing a better transit riding experience for vulnerable populations, particularly children, seniors, and people with chronic illnesses, according to the CTA.
