Transit agencies expand automated bus lane enforcement cameras

Transit authorities in Boston and Los Angeles are expanding the use of automated camera enforcement to penalize vehicles blocking bus lanes and stops.

In Boston, the MBTA will begin a soft launch of its camera enforcement program on October 1. Initially, the system will be installed on Silver Line 4 and 5 routes between downtown Boston and Nubian Square. During the first few weeks, the cameras will issue warnings only; formal fines are scheduled to begin at the start of the new year. A previous 30-day trial in February recorded an average of 220 violations per bus per day.

In Los Angeles, the LADOT plans to install cameras on DASH shuttle buses following a successful pilot program. This follows existing automated enforcement on Metro buses, which issued approximately 146,000 tickets totaling $42.8 million during fiscal year 2025-26. City reports indicate that the automated bus lane enforcement program has increased bus speeds, improved reliability, and led to a 33 percent drop in citations after one year due to improved driver behavior.