Parking violators along two major bus lines are about to face a new crackdown from LA Metro. Buses are currently installing one hundred on-board camera systems to monitor bus lanes and bus stops for obstructions, including illegally parked vehicles. Installation is already underway on La Brea Boulevard’s Line 212 and Wilshire Boulevard’s Line 720.
LA Metro and tech company Hayden AI collaborated on the camera bus lane enforcement program, which will scan the license plates of parking violators and send the information to the L.A. Department of Transportation (LADOT). Then, a human will review the violation and send a ticket through the mail.
According to a report, LADOT anticipates issuing about 108,000 annual parking citations through the program, based on “proof of concept” tests from 2021. LADOT and LA Metro have agreed to a 25/75 revenue split, respectively, with LADOT’s portion estimated at $5.5 million per year.
Per state law, the program will respect a 60-day grace period after launch. During this time, Metro and LADOT will dispense information about the program to the public and violators will receive warnings. They anticipate a 10-20% higher violation rate during the rollout while the public becomes more aware of the program. The first citations will go out in November 2024.
The camera bus lane enforcement program will be implemented in two stages. Stage 1 is already underway on Lines 720 and 212, and Stage 2 will begin in about two months on Lines 910/950 on the Silver Line and Line 70 on Olive Street/Grand Avenue.
The new program is expected to address parking enforcement inefficiencies along L.A. bus lines, which are currently carried out by Parking Enforcement Officers. Staffing is already limited, and the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget is expected to cut down personnel by another 50%. By improving the consistency of parking enforcement through the use of cameras, the city anticipates reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality, and fewer transportation delays.
San Francisco-based company Hayden AI has previously collaborated with New York City Transit, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus division, and additional public transport agencies around the world. After installing its technology on New York MTA buses, the company reported up to 40% faster transit speeds and 34% fewer collisions.
What do you think about the new camera bus lane enforcement program?