City makes live video safety feeds permanent on all buses in fleet

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A pilot project to live stream Winnipeg Transit bus camera feeds in emergency situations has been made permanent on all buses in an effort to improve safety for operators and passengers.

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Initially established in 2021, the pilot project sends bus camera feeds into Transit’s Control Centre and has been expanded to include all 607 buses in the fleet, the City of Winnipeg announced Monday.

“Extending live video feeds to all Transit buses is a smart step forward to help ensure the safety of passengers and drivers,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham in a press released. “It also complements other recent efforts like the launch of the Community Safety Team to patrol on buses and around transit stops, the installation of improved driver protection shields, and the modernization of the on-board communications system.”

“The safety of our bus operators and our passengers is paramount,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, chair of the City’s Public Works Committee. “That’s why I’m thrilled to see this important initiative expanded to all buses in our fleet, allowing Transit’s Control Centre personnel to immediately tap into the live camera feed from any bus to assess the situation and dispatch the appropriate emergency services.”

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Bus operators are trained to immediately contact the Control Centre in emergencies. The Transit Control Centre is staffed by Transit supervisors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The initiative was welcomed by the union representing Transit operators, as long as the cameras are used solely for their intended purpose — safety.

“The introduction of live feeds is a critical development in protecting our transit operators and passengers,” said Chris Scott, President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1505, in a statement. “This technology will not only act as a deterrent to potential wrongdoers but also ensure that any incidents can be addressed swiftly and effectively. We are committed to working closely with Winnipeg Transit and law enforcement to ensure the safety of our members and the public.”

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However, the union said they will be monitoring to ensure the purpose of the live feed is to enhance safety on the service and not to monitor employees for the purpose of discipline.

Winnipeg Transit began installing LTE modems on buses in 2019 as part of its commitment to updating the technology and technical capabilities of its fleet. This safety initiative involves the use of existing LTE modem technology on buses which allows the bus cameras to connect to the Transit Control Centre in real time in emergency situations. The initiative did not require the installation of any additional equipment.

The initial recommendation for the live camera feed pilot project was made by the Transit Advisory Committee (TAC) in 2021. The TAC consists of a bus operator representative, and representatives from Transit management, Winnipeg Police, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), the Winnipeg Association of Public Service Officers (WAPSO), the Winnipeg Committee for Safety, Functional Transit, and is chaired by Lukes.

glen.dawkins@kleinmedia.ca

X: @SunGlenDawkins

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