The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT), in partnership with the City of Sacramento, launched a Bus Stop Enforcement Program aimed at improving safety and accessibility for riders and SacRT employees.

Unauthorized parking in bus stops makes it challenging for bus operators to safely pull up to curbs, often forcing passengers to board or exit buses away from the designated stop area, which can be unsafe and inconvenient.

Why This Program is Needed
When drivers park in bus stops, they not only delay buses but also create hazardous conditions for everyone—especially riders with mobility challenges. Keeping bus stops clear ensures safer, faster, and more reliable transit service for our riders, making it easier to get to work, school, medical appointments, and more.

This summer, SacRT conducted a 70-day pilot program on two busy downtown routes (bus routes 51 and 30) to assess the impact of vehicles illegally parked in bus stops. During the pilot, SacRT buses detected 286 parking violations obstructing bus stops. The high volume of violations confirmed the need for a targeted enforcement program to ensure accessible and safe boarding for all passengers.

Sacramento joins Oakland, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and New York in deploying automated bus stop enforcement with bus-mounted camera systems.

The program will also enforce bike lane violations to decrease the number of vehicles obstructing bike lanes, supporting sustainable transportation options while fostering safer, more predictable road conditions for all users.

How the Program Works
Up to 100 SacRT buses will be equipped with front-facing cameras powered by artificial intelligence (AI) from Hayden AI. These cameras will detect and record instances of illegal parking in bus stops. When a violation occurs, the system captures a short video and a photo of the vehicle’s license plate, and the exact time and location of the incident. This information is then sent to the City of Sacramento for review and citation processing.

Drivers illegally parked in bus stops will receive warning notices in the mail starting December 19, 2024. Citations will be issued starting February 18, 2025.

Under Assembly Bill 917 (AB 917), California transit agencies now have the authority to use forward-facing cameras to enforce parking restrictions in transit-only lanes and designated transit zones. This legal provision allows SacRT and other agencies statewide to take significant steps toward improving transit safety and accessibility by ensuring that bus stops remain clear and accessible.

Key Details for Drivers:

• Start Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024, begins a 60-day warning period.
• Citation Start Date: Citations with fines will be issued starting Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
• Citation Process: If a vehicle is detected obstructing a bus stop, a citation will be mailed to the registered owner.

Program Benefits:

• Improved Safety: Clear stops enhance safety for riders boarding and exiting the bus.
• Enhanced Reliability: Buses can stay on schedule when stops are accessible.
• Better Accessibility: Ensures people with disabilities and those using mobility devices have a clear and accessible boarding area.

California-based Hayden AI is providing the automated bus stop and bike lane enforcement camera systems for SacRT buses and Duncan Solutions is providing violations processing software. All evidence packages of parking violations detected by the camera systems will be reviewed manually by the City of Sacramento.

For more information on paying or contesting a citation, visit https://dsparkingportal.com/Sacramento.