On November 9, Mayor Jim Kenney to officially signed into law Bill No. 230489, entitled “Camera-Based Enforcement System For Parking, Stopping, and Standing Violations That Interfere With Mass Transit.”
The Mayor attended a signing ceremony at SEPTA headquarters with Councilmember Squilla (1st District), Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards, Philadelphia Parking Authority Executive Director Richard Lazer, and multiple advocate groups and supporters.
This new city ordinance allows SEPTA to use window-mounted camera-based parking enforcement technology. This will allow buses to target illegally parked vehicles blocking transit stops and bus lanes. The City is aiming to decrease traffic congestion, improve traffic safety, and address the climate crisis in Philadelphia.
Supporting public transit has been a core priority of the Kenney administration from the beginning. Allowing cameras on SEPTA vehicles helps us to keep residents and visitors safe while keeping traffic moving smoothly.
Earlier this year, SEPTA partnered with Hayden AI to equip buses with AI-driven cameras as part of a pilot program along Routes 21 and 42. Over the course of the 70-day trial, the technology found more than 36,000 instances of obstruction in Center City, West Philadelphia, and Upper Darby.
In a city where 42% of Black residents and 50% of impoverished households do not own a car, improving the safety and reliability of public transit is an issue of equity. This administration has worked to ensure that all Philadelphians can get where they need to go safely and on time.
Blocked bus stops and curb ramps create serious safety and accessibility issues, especially for seniors and riders with disabilities. This legislation will improve transportation for all Philadelphians, especially those with disabilities.
The bill was introduced to Philadelphia City Council by Councilmember Mark Squilla on June 8, 2023 and was passed unanimously on October 26, 2023.
The ordinance will allow for camera-based enforcement in the following areas:
- The following streets between Front Street and 63rd Street: Walnut Street, Chestnut Street, Market Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard;
- All other streets in the area bounded by, and inclusive of where relevant, Spring Garden Street, the Delaware River, South Street and the Schuylkill River; and
- Those portions of all streets where active trolley service operates.
