On Monday, June 17th, the MTA announced the expansion of its automated camera enforcement program to target drivers blocking bus stops and double parking. This initiative, known as Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE), aims to improve bus speeds and overall transit efficiency in New York City.
The program builds on a previous pilot that equipped 600 buses with cameras to ticket drivers blocking dedicated bus lanes on 14 routes. Now, over 1,000 buses on 32 routes will have these cameras by the end of the year, capturing not only bus lane violations but also those blocking bus stops and double parking. For the next 60 days, drivers will receive warnings, after which fines will begin at $50 for a first offense and rise to $250 for repeat offenders.
Frank Annicaro, Senior Vice President of the MTA’s bus division, emphasized the importance of this program at a press conference in Washington Heights, stating, “Do not block our buses. Stay out of our bus lanes, stay out of our bus stops, and don’t double park illegally.” This sentiment was echoed by Demetrius Crichlow, interim president of NYC Transit, who noted the program’s role In improving the movement of people, not just vehicles.
The ACE program follows the Automated Bus Lane Enforcement (ABLE) initiative launched in 2019, which has already improved bus speeds by 5% on affected routes. The MTA reports that accidents have decreased by 20%, and emissions have dropped by 5-10% due to reduced idling times.
Ydanis Rodriguez, NYC’s Transportation Commissioner, highlighted the program’s impact on driver behavior, citing that only a small percentage of drivers re-offend after receiving a ticket. This enforcement is crucial in a city where buses average only 8.1 miles per hour, the slowest urban bus speed in the nation.
Danny Pearlstein, policy director at the Riders Alliance, expressed the program’s significance for bus riders, stating, “ACE is about giving bus riders the respect we deserve. ACE is about giving 2 million bus riders back our time.” This expanded enforcement is set to enhance the commuting experience for millions of New Yorkers.
