CHICAGO — Six CTA buses are now operating with automated cameras designed to enforce parking and standing violations in bike and bus lanes, the agency announced Wednesday.
The cameras, called Automated Bus Lane Enforcement (ABLE) systems, are part of a pilot program launched last year. In 2024, the camera were put on city vehicles and now move to six buses.
The pilot authorizes Chicago to ticket registered vehicle owners for specific parking violations and includes, but is not limited to, bus and bike lane violations within the designated pilot area downtown.
The pilot area is bounded by Lake Michigan, North Avenue, Ashland Avenue and Roosevelt Road.
“Every Chicagoan deserves a transportation system that is safe, reliable, and efficient,” Mayor Johnson said. “By keeping bus and bike lanes clear of illegally parked vehicles, the Smart Streets pilot helps us protect our most vulnerable road users while improving the daily commute for riders across the city. This collaboration with CTA represents another step forward in using innovation to make our streets work better for everyone.”
An AI system called Hayden is responsible for performing an initial review of violation data before transferring the data to the City of Chicago for final determination and potential violation issuance.
The pilot begins Wednesday with warnings being issued first. Beginning on Nov. 14, anyone who was already issued a warning will receive a fine.
The pilot is currently set to expire in Dec. 2026.
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