Automated Trolley Camera Enforcement Begins TODAY — Wednesday, April 1st.
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) reminds drivers that the warning period for automated trolley enforcement cameras on lines T1 through T5, and the G1 route — used to detect vehicles illegally blocking trolley lanes and stopping zones — has ENDED, with full enforcement beginning TODAY, Wednesday, April 1st. (https://youtu.be/Ld957tph0P0)
Forward-facing vision technology-equipped camera systems from Hayden AI (https://youtu.be/Es2P86W9Ljo) are now mounted on 38 trolleys and 152 SEPTA buses. Trained PPA enforcement officers manually review all violations before issuing a citation. Philadelphia is the first city in the country to use this enforcement approach on trolleys.
PPA Executive Director Rich Lazer said, “Vehicles parked illegally in trolley or bus lanes cause unnecessary delays. A single illegally parked vehicle can disrupt service for thousands of riders and create unsafe boarding conditions that force passengers into moving traffic.”
Legislation authorizing the PPA and SEPTA to operate the automated bus and trolley enforcement cameras was sponsored by Councilman Mark Squilla, and was passed unanimously by City Council in October 2023.
New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and other major US cities currently use camera technology to improve safety and bus performance. In New York City, where bus-mounted automated camera enforcement has been in effect since 2019, bus speeds have increased by 5% on average, and collisions have decreased by as much as 34% along bus routes utilizing this technology. Parking violations obstructing bus stops have also decreased by 40%.
“This is a joint PPA/SEPTA initiative that directly supports the City’s Vision Zero goals and aligns with the PPA’s mission to enhance public safety and improve the quality of life for all Philadelphians,” Lazer said.
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About the PPA . . .
Named “Best” city agency for 2023 by Philadelphia Magazine, the PPA is an independent, multifaceted state agency focused on enhancing quality of life and improving public safety, while managing on-street parking and providing garage parking in center city Philadelphia – and regulating taxis, limos and transportation networks.