The M42 bus — notorious for crawling crosstown through Hell’s Kitchen at a sluggish 3.2 miles per hour — is getting a speed boost.
The M42 pulls around a car in the bus lane on the first day of operation of on-board bus lane enforcement cameras this Saturday. Photo: Phil O’Brien
Since Saturday, the M42 has become the second crosstown route in Hell’s Kitchen with on-board bus lane enforcement cameras — aimed at clearing its congested path from the Hudson River to the East Side. The move is part of the MTA’s growing Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) program, which fines drivers who block bus stops, double park, or drive in bus lanes. The M34-SBS along 34th Street was previously the only crosstown route in the neighborhood with camera enforcement.
Jesse Greenwald, co-chair of Manhattan Community Board 4’s Transportation Planning Committee, previously told W42ST that riding the M42 is often slower than walking, and called on the city to prioritize reliable, accessible public transit across 42nd Street.
Jesse Greenwald, co-chair of MCB4’s Transportation Planning Committee. Photo: Phil O’Brien
The penalties for violations start at $50 and escalate by $50 increments for repeat offenses, up to a maximum of $250. Cameras mounted on the buses automatically record and transmit violations to the city for review. The ACE program does not affect a driver’s insurance or license but it has proven to change behavior. Fewer than 10% of drivers commit multiple offenses once fined.
According to the MTA, routes with ACE cameras have seen average speed increases of 5%, with some corridors improving by up to 30%. Collisions have dropped by 20% and blocked bus stops are down 40%.
According to the MTA, routes with ACE cameras have seen average speed increases of 5%, with some corridors improving by up to 30%. Photo: Phil O’Brien
The M42’s upgrade comes just months after local community boards urged the city to overhaul 42nd Street with a dedicated busway — similar to the transformation of 14th Street in 2019, which led to 24% faster buses and a 30% increase in ridership. Advocates hope the addition of enforcement cameras will lay the groundwork for a similar transformation.
“We’ve all had the experience of sitting on a bus on 42nd Street and realizing it’d be quicker to walk,” said Greenwald earlier this year. “If the city is serious about congestion pricing and climate goals, then improving bus service is essential.”
The M42 bus lanes are now being enforced by cameras between 7am and 7pm. Photo: Phil O’Brien
With more than 775,000 daily riders across 510 miles of ACE-enforced routes, the MTA says the program has become a cornerstone of faster, safer, and more accessible transit. And for long-frustrated M42 riders, Saturday’s rollout may finally bring a little relief — and momentum for bigger changes still to come.
Signs will be posted along the M42 corridor notifying drivers of the new camera enforcement. Full details about the ACE program, violation rules, and how to contest tickets are available at mta.info/ace.