MTA Expands Bus Lane Enforcement Coverage with Activation of Cameras on the Bx35 May 1

Bx35 Is First of Five Routes to Be Equipped with Bus Lane Enforcement Cameras by End of Summer 

NYCDOT to Issue Warning Notices to Violators Through June 29

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that automated bus lane enforcement cameras will be activated on the Bx35 next Monday, May 1, marking the first of five routes that will be activated between May and the end of summer. Like past activations, the Bx35 will issue warning notices to motorists for the first 60 days in accordance with State law, to ensure drivers are informed about the program before any fines are levied. The Bx35 is an essential crosstown route for the Bronx, carrying approximately 19,000 weekday riders with key connections to 22 bus routes and the  ,  ,  ,  ,   subway lines. 

Bus lane enforcement cameras are an essential tool to keep bus lanes clear of vehicles and buses on schedule for faster and more reliable service.  With the activation of the cameras on the Bx35, a total of 450 buses are equipped with bus lane enforcement technology, covering all boroughs, bringing the MTA closer to its shared goal with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) to expand camera enforcement to cover up to 80% of bus lanes by the end of 2023. The goal was adjusted from 85% to include the miles of new bus lane installations, 

“With more cameras on our bus lanes, the better our message gets across – bus lanes are for buses,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “Bus customers have been asking for better speeds and shorter wait times and bus lane enforcement cameras have repeatedly proven an effective tool in improving bus service, a fundamental initiative of our Faster, Cleaner, Safer plan.” 

“These bus-mounted cameras will make commutes faster and more reliable for tens of thousands of daily bus riders across the city,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Automated enforcement like this works to keep our lanes clear and change driver behavior, with only 19% of violators receiving a second ticket.  We’re proud to partner with the MTA to expand automated enforcement, starting on the Bx35, which runs along two recent DOT bus priority projects along the El Grant Highway and 181st Street.” 

“For many Bronxites, public transportation is a vital resource for residents to safely travel to and from their destinations,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “With the expansion of the Automated Bus Lane Enforcement Camera program on the Bx35 line in the Bronx, MTA is prioritizing safety, accessibility, and speed for the thousands of riders that rely on this bus for their daily commute. I want to thank the MTA and the New York City Department of Transportation for their commitment to delivering faster and more reliable bus service in our borough, and I hope we continue to see this important initiative expand throughout the city.” 

Each bus lane corridor has signage indicating the hours that the bus lanes are operable, and warning motorists that the lanes are camera-enforced. Drivers who violate these rules during enforcement periods are subject to a summons, with fines beginning at $50 and escalating, for repeat offenders, up to $250. 

Through March, over 61,000 violations were issued across the last nine routes that activated bus lane enforcement cameras in the last quarter of 2022. Based on a few months' worth of data, 82% of violators only had one violation, and 11% had two, consistent with data collected since 2019 from other routes enforced by bus-mounted cameras. Additionally, the new routes have already seen improvement in speed with an average speed increase of 3%.