Officers Issued Summonses and Ordered Vehicles in Bus Lanes to Move
New York City Transit President Richard Davey today joined the NYPD’s Bus Lane Enforcement Task Force along 57 St in Manhattan to issue summonses to vehicles parked in bus lanes in an effort to keep the lanes clear and speed up buses. Between 8:00 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., President Davey and members of the NYPD’s Bus Lane Enforcement Task Force also ordered vehicles to move before they would be towed by the NYPD.
The bus lane on 57 St is used by the M31 and M57. Both routes are tied for the third slowest peak period route in the entire MTA bus network with an average speed of 4.67 mph.
“Bus lane rules are the simplest to follow – if you’re not a bus, get the heck out,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “Selfishly delaying New Yorkers or making bus operators drive into the opposite lane of traffic to get around illegally parked cars only causes more congestion. Working with our partners at NYCDOT and the NYPD, we will be cracking down on bus lane blockers, clearing our bus lanes and helping bus customers reach their destinations faster and safer than before.”
“More than a million New Yorkers depend on bus service to quickly and safely get them around our city each day and night,” said NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “And when it comes to vehicles illegally blocking bus lanes, prevention is at the forefront of our public safety mission. It is a crucial effort aimed at decreasing traffic congestion, limiting delays, and eradicating roadway safety issues.”
The NYPD’s Pilot Citywide Bus Lane Enforcement Task Force deploys during AM and PM rush hours to enforce and deter parking violations in bus stops, bus lanes, and busways along priority corridors to expedite bus routes and improve traffic safety. Each deployment consists of approximately 85 traffic enforcement agents in marked vehicles and foot-posts, as well as 15 tow trucks on weekdays.
The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) identified 39 bus corridors for priority enforcement of bus lane and bus stop violations. During Phase 1 of the pilot program, enforcement efforts will be prioritized along 18 bus corridors chosen based on high weekly ridership and reported ongoing traffic delays associated with bus lane and bus stop violations.
NYCDOT declared Thursday a Gridlock Alert Day, meaning the city is expected to see some of its worst congestion of the year. New Yorkers can do their part to avoid getting stuck in congestion – and avoid contributing to it – by riding MTA subways, commuter trains, and buses.
On Gridlock Alert days like today and tomorrow, bus riders can avoid the worst of congestion by riding one of six select-service-bus (SBS) routes serving the central business district with dedicated lanes. SBS buses travel along priority routes, make fewer stops and utilize all door boarding, culminating in faster trips for riders. Express buses are also a great way to travel from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island to the heart of Manhattan during weekday rush hours with 75 routes total.
The MTA continues to work closely with the NYPD to expand traffic enforcement of bus lanes and reduce instances of double-parked vehicles blocking bus lanes and delaying bus service. Similarly, the Authority is expanding its rollout of Automatic Bus Lane Enforcement (ABLE) cameras and rebranding as Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE), bringing enforcement to bus stops and double parking. The existing cameras capture drivers violating bus lane rules in real-time and have proven to be effective in deterring motorists from blocking bus lanes, improving service reliability and reducing collisions. The MTA currently has 623 buses equipped with ABLE cameras on 21 routes across all boroughs, and beginning May 2024, the Authority will upgrade 14 existing routes with ACE cameras. For more information, watch full presentation here.