Birmingham City Council is set to install bus lane enforcement cameras on three busy routes at a cost of nearly £4m.
A report to the council’s cabinet recommends bringing in cameras on Lichfield Road, Tyburn Road and Bordesley Green East at a total capital cost of £459,335 and estimated revenue costs of £3.339m over five years.
A bus in Birminham's traffic
Officials anticipate that costs will be recouped from Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).
The report states: ‘In the unlikely event that the level of infringement falls to a level of compliance, whereby insufficient PCN revenue is generated the prudential borrowing will need to be funded through the Transportation and Highways Capital programme in future years.’
Bus lane fines are a controversial issue in Birmingham. In 2014, an adjudicator ruled that cameras at three locations responsible for about 65,000 fines had inadequate signage.
Stewart Stacey, Birmingham cabinet member for transport and roads, said he ‘would much rather see motorists keeping out of bus lanes than paying us fines’ and that any surplus would be spent on measures to improve public transport or other highway associated improvements.
He added: ‘Motorists illegally travelling in bus lanes have a serious impact on journey times for bus and taxi passengers and further exacerbate the city’s congestion problems. This, in turn, also has an adverse environmental impact.
‘This isn’t about trying to catch people out, so any areas where enforcement is taking place will be clearly identified with signage and road markings that are not only legally compliant, but also adequate.’
A council spokesman told Transport Network that enforcement would not come into effect until around August.
The report states: ‘Ultimately it is intended that all corridors in the city that include bus lanes or other bus priority measures will be covered by fixed bus lane camera enforcement where appropriate.’
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