With just over two weeks remaining in the legislative session, Albany lawmakers are considering two bills that would help ease traffic congestion in the New York metro area, according to StreetsBlog [1].

London saw a significant improvement in bus speeds after it installed traffic cameras. (photo courtesy Streetsblog)The first would allow for the installation of enforcement cameras on buses to deter cars from using bus-only lanes. That bill's prospects are growing brighter after one key legislator softened his stance [2] against traffic cameras.

The second bill would reclassify blocking the box infractions as parking violations, thereby allowing traffic enforcement agents (and not only police officers) to issue tickets and enhance enforcement.

Given that New York City DOT and the MTA are, for the most part, not creating physically-separated bus lanes as is done in cities like Bogota, Colombia and Paris, France, bus-mounted cameras will be essential to keep lanes clear and make BRT routes truly rapid, Streetsblog concluded.

If you haven't already, please tell your legislators [3] that these two bills are important by signing our action alert [4].