The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) partnered with Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) to onboard Trellint and Hayden AI to implement and develop the Automated Bus Lane Enforcement (ABLE) system. The program, alternatively called Bus Lane Enforcement System (BLES), is an innovative solution designed to improve bus lane and bus stop compliance.
LA Metro ’s priorities centered on improving urban mobility and public transit reliability by targeting bus lane and bus stop violations. Cities which have adopted the policy were driven by their commitment towards reducing congestion and illegal parking that disrupted bus operations, ensuring these transit spaces remain clear and accessible for all, especially people with disabilities. LA Metro also aimed to create a safer environment for passengers and drivers, enhance operational efficiency, and support sustainable, equitable transportation.
Building the Partnership: Collaboration for Change
The ABLE program required a team effort, with each organization playing a specific role:
LA Metro – known for operating the region’s extensive bus and rail network, provided the bus fleet for the initiative.
LADOT – the city agency responsible for transportation management and enforcement in Los Angeles.
Hayden AI – a company specializing in artificial intelligence and computer vision for transportation, supplied the advanced artificial intelligence cameras that automatically detect and record bus lane and bus stop violations.
Trellint – a leader in citation processing and data management for transportation enforcement, handled everything from processing photos and videos of the violations with its image review system and the citation processing with its electronic Ticket Information Management System (eTIMS®).
Together, these organizations combined their strengths to create a seamless, technology-driven approach to keeping Los Angeles bus lanes clear and public transit running smoothly.
The Journey Towards Automated Bus Lane Enforcement
To tackle bus lane and bus stop violations, the project introduced a technology-driven system that combines artificial intelligence, secure data management, and expert review.
Up to 100 AI-powered cameras, provided by Hayden AI, were installed on LA Metro buses throughout Los Angeles. These cameras continuously monitor bus lanes and bus
stops, automatically capturing high-resolution images and video whenever a vehicle is parked illegally. The evidence is securely transferred to Trellint’s image review system, where it is organized and prepared for LADOT’s review.
The next step involves the LADOT Parking Enforcement and Traffic Control Division. City staff carefully examine each potential violation using the digital evidence. Only confirmed cases move forward, ensuring that enforcement remains both accurate and fair.
Once a violation is confirmed by the City staff, the details are sent to eTIMS® for notice mailing and citation processing. Trellint generates and mails the citations to the motorists, providing a photo of the violation and clear instructions for contesting or payment of the citation.
Driving Measurable Results
The deployment of ABLE delivered clear and measurable improvements:
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Detection & Compliance: Since the program launch in February 2025, the system identified and processed approximately 150,000 violations.
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Dismissals remained rare: Citations dismissed remained under 1% demonstrating both adjudication quality and citation integrity.
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Resource Optimization: Automated enforcement allowed LADOT’s parking teams to focus on other critical areas, multiplying their effectiveness across the city.
Under a City Council motion, the revenue generated by the program may be used to support more traffic officers, paint and signage maintenance crews, speed humps, and tools to address the top 50 locations where street takeovers occur, as well as measures to improve pedestrian safety.