PRESS POINTS

Cameras could help clear bus lanes

Posted

Cameras designed to immediately penalize improperly parked cars that slow down buses are coming — just not to the Bronx anytime soon.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is spending $6.2 million on a pilot program designed to capture real-time bus lane violations, set for a select number of buses in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

“This advanced automated camera technology will make a real difference toward clearing the way for our buses as they navigate some of the most congested roadways in our nation,” said MTA Bus company president Darryl Irick, in a release.

The system is called ABLE — Automated Bus Lane Enforcement — and will be installed on 123 Select buses in the city. ABLE captures the license plate information, photos and videos — as well as location and timestamp information — of vehicles obstructing bus lanes to document clear cases of bus lane violations.

The system is designed to properly discriminate between violators and those simply making permitted turns from bus lanes, according to the release.

It’s not clear what fines or penalties will be assessed to those blocking a lane. However, city law sets standard bus lane violation fines at between $115 and $150.

 

Bronx series earns local Emmy nods

BronxNet’s animated series “Get to Know the Bronx” has picked up two Emmy nominations from the New York chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. It joins previous Emmy nominations from last year.

“Get to Know the Bronx” provides detailed historical information and cultural highlights related to Bronx places and people, according to a release.

It’s produced by animator Aria Feliciano with support of BronxNet’s Christine Mariani and Marisa White.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Darryl Irick, BronxNet, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Aria Feliciano, Christine Mariani, Marisa White, Michael Hinman,

Comments