Taxpayers fund expanded bike, bus lane enforcement
(The Center Square) – Chicago is expanding its camera system to enforce bus and bike lane regulations, with help from a taxpayer-funded transit agency created by state government.
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced on Friday that the Smart Streets pilot program has collected more $3 million in revenue since it launched in 2024.
“The goal of the program is traffic enforcement and safety. It is never our goal to aggressively fine and fee residents,” Johnson said.
The program’s expansion is projected to generate $12.8 million in 2027, once cameras are added to 20 more city vehicles in January.
Alderman Daniel La Spata said safety is the thrust of the Smart Streets pilot.
“Smart Streets affixes cameras to city vehicles, to CTA buses, and is able to capture parking violations in our bus lanes, in our bike lanes as they go down the street,” La Spata said.
Johnson said the city budget would include dedicated funding to support the program’s expansion. A statement from the mayor’s office said the number of city buses with cameras grew to 52 last month, thanks to $1 million from the Northern Illinois Transit Authority.
NITA was created by legislation signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in December 2025 to provide $1.5 billion in annual transit funding by imposing a 0.25% sales tax hike on consumers in six Chicago-area counties, diverting about $860 million a year from the state’s motor fuel tax and $200 million from the state’s road fund.
Senate Bill 2111 also allowed the Illinois Tollway Board to impose toll increases that are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.
Alderman Andre Vasquez said the program provides accountability and helps correct behavior.
“The folks who tend to get away with it are much more larger corporations than your average person driving. It’s these large delivery trucks that are blocking the bike lanes and then avoiding the level of accountability necessary,” Vasquez said.
Johnson said 84% of drivers who received a no-fine warning did not later receive a fine.
The program is expected to expand in phases to eventually provide citywide coverage in 2028.
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