"There are hotspots, there are bottlenecks all over the city where we need the traffic agents to keep it possible for buses to move. We have a little list of the top six or 10 bottleneck locations where the buses really lose time. We're talking about the bottlenecks that are chronic and that need a traffic enforcement agent to break through so the buses can break through."
"The MTA relies heavily on bus-mounted enforcement cameras to ticket drivers who block bus lanes and bus stops and double-park along bus routes, but the programs are limited to just 56 routes - even as agency stats show they speed up buses by as much as 30 percent and reduce car crashes and injuries."
"The bus-mounted cameras also exempt emergency vehicles - whether or not they are actually responding to an emergency, further limiting their effectiveness. Municipal employees with city-issued parking placards - including cops ostensibly responsible for enforcing the bus right of way - also get away with blocking buses with impunity."
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber testified before City Council that the agency needs dedicated funding for additional NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agents to maintain clear bus lanes at known bottleneck locations throughout the city. While bus-mounted enforcement cameras on 56 routes have proven effective—speeding up buses by up to 30 percent and reducing crashes—they cannot physically remove illegally parked vehicles and trucks. The cameras also exempt emergency vehicles and municipal employees with city-issued parking placards, including police officers responsible for enforcing bus lane protections. The MTA has identified six to ten chronic bottleneck locations requiring human traffic enforcement agents to enable buses to move efficiently through the city.
Read at Streetsblog
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