A pilot program that installs cameras on Los Angeles Metro buses to help ticket cars parked in bus lanes or bus stops launched this week.
The L.A. City Council recently approved an ordinance to enact the Bus Lane Enforcement program, a partnership between L.A. Metro and the L.A. City Transportation Department (LADOT).
As part of the program, 100 cameras will be installed on buses across various routes, including some that run through Boyle Heights and East L.A. The AI-powered cameras will capture license plates of those who park illegally which will then be reviewed by transit officials.
For the first 60 days, drivers will be issued warnings, with citations likely sent out early next year. Those fines — which start at $293 — will be issued by mail once violations are confirmed.
Earlier this week, vehicles parked in bus lanes or bus stops on Metro Line 212 along La Brea Boulevard and Line 720 on Wilshire Boulevard began receiving warning notices, Metro announced. A second phase is expected to begin in two months, and will include Line 70, which runs through Boyle Heights and East L.A. along Cesar Chavez Avenue into El Monte, and the Metro J Silver Line 910/950, which has stops at L.A. General Medical Center and Cal State L.A.
According to Metro, the program is meant to speed up bus times, increase ridership and improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
“The program will also reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and lower the frequency of illegally parked vehicles in bus lanes and zones, which is not only a safety concern, but a significant source of delays to buses during peak hours,” according to a July LADOT report prepared for the City Council.
Although the City Council approved the program, Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Traci Park requested reports detailing how the city allocates the funds generated from citations.
Hernandez wants a spending plan that prioritizes traffic officers, paint and sign maintenance crews, a speed hump program, and funding for safe street infrastructure and pedestrian safety at the top 50 locations for street takeovers. Park’s proposal requests funding to support transportation enhancements for the 2028 Olympics.
The councilwomen’s amendments were referred to the Budget, Finance, and Innovation Committee for further discussion.
According to the L.A. Times, L.A. Metro’s board of directors approved an $11 million contract to deploy 100 camera systems in December last year. The agreement is expected to run for about five years.
From November to December 2021, the new camera system was tested on the 720 Wilshire Rapid and J Line 910 buses. Metro reported more than 800 “bus lane obstructions” were recorded, achieving a 92% accuracy rate. Based on this test, transit officials expect to issue approximately 108,000 citations yearly.
What about the 18 line, from 6th and Burlington to 6th and Alvarado.
Screw on time performance, it’s a safety issue when buses have to service the stop in a traffic lane.
More money grabs. Public transportation is a burden to the LA scene. Get rid of this and the awful bus lanes
The city needs to implement this as much as possible. This issue makes many riders late for work and other urgent matters.
Hi, I am a Dash transit bus operator. It’s a wonderful and great idea to keep our lanes and stops open to serve the community in timely manner, it happens everywhere on my route. What needs to be addressed is also these corner street vendors who also violate the rules and laws of prepping food or selling merchandise. They create a lot of obstructions on the road where bus stops are located. What if Metro and city would contact Dash to install the camera system in our busses in Downtown Division 589 and Washington Division 590? This will generate more for the services of the L.A. County transit system.