NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is expanding its crackdown on bus lane violations. Four more bus routes — the Q6 in Queens and the Bx20, Bx3, and Bx7 in the Bronx — are now equipped with Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE), bringing the total to 43 routes citywide.
Starting Sept. 15, violators on these routes will receive warnings for 60 days. After that, fines will begin at $50 and escalate up to $250 for repeat offenders. The cameras catch vehicles driving or parking in bus lanes, blocking stops or double-parking along routes.
Over 1,200 buses are now ACE-equipped, covering 510 miles and serving more than 775,000 daily riders. The results are clear: bus speeds have increased by 5% on average, with some routes improving by as much as 30%. Collisions dropped 20%, and blocked bus stops fell by 40%.
The MTA reports that only 9% of drivers commit more than two violations after being fined. The agency sees this as evidence that the program works — and deters repeat behavior.
ACE doesn’t just benefit riders. Clear bus lanes ease traffic congestion and improve road safety. Vehicles blocking curb access force riders, including people with disabilities, to board buses from the street, putting them at risk.
Violations are civil, not criminal. They don’t impact insurance or driving records. Revenue from fines supports MTA operations and service improvements.
The ACE program was authorized by the New York State Legislature in 2023 and is run in partnership with the city’s Department of Transportation and Department of Finance. Each violation must be verified by city employees using footage from at least two different buses.
Drivers are allowed to briefly enter bus lanes for right turns or quick passenger drop-offs. But long stops, double parking, or blocking a bus stop for more than 2.5 minutes will result in a violation.
The MTA urges New Yorkers to follow the rules. With 98% of residents living within a quarter mile of a bus stop, cleaner, faster buses help everyone get where they need to go.
More: Rockland County News
Born in Harrisburg, Pa., Houghton was raised in northern Pennsylvania. His father was a sports editor and reporter, so he was immersed in sports as a child. Houghton graduated from Pace University in 2000 with a journalism and digital major and a studio art minor.
