Kelowna’s fleet of buses now features CCTV cameras, an added safety feature for drivers and customers.
41 buses in Kelowna now have the cameras installed. This will expand to 47 when six more buses are fitted with cameras. The remainder of the fleet will have the cameras installed as the buses are replaced with factory-installed CCTV equipment. The budget to equip the Kelowna buses with this new technology is $235,000. Installation of the cameras began in August 2016.
“The funding allocated for transit improvements, including technology upgrades like the installation of CCTV cameras on buses, shows this government’s commitment to making public transit safe and accessible for Kelowna residents,” said Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick. “Now, transit users can rest assured that we have systems in place to deter crime and promote safety.”
Funding for the initiative comes from the Government of Canada and Province of B.C. under the recent bilateral agreement that will result in more than $900 million being invested in public transit projects throughout the province.
“It’s essential that people feel safe and secure on our transit system,” said MLA for Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson. “At the same time, we want to assure riders that their privacy is protected since video footage will only be viewed in the case of an incident requiring investigation by police and in accordance with privacy laws.”
The installation of the cameras follows a successful proof of concept project with 83 CCTV-equipped buses in Victoria and 25 buses in Kamloops. The program ran from April 2015 to April 2016. Over 1,400 incidents were recorded: more than 500 went to full investigation by BC Transit, police and/or ICBC.
“We have seen the benefits of having CCTV cameras on-board our buses in the proof of concept phase,” said Manuel Achadinha, BC Transit President and Chief Executive Officer. “The addition of these cameras in Kelowna shows our continued commitment to safety as our number one priority.”
Between six and ten cameras will be installed on each bus depending on the size: four to eight on the inside of the buses and two on the exterior of the buses. There is no live monitoring of video, as footage will only be viewed by authorized security staff following a reported incident. Only video required for security purposes will be retained – all other video will be erased.
“A rider survey this year showed that people feel safe on transit in Kelowna, and these cameras will help add to that secure feeling,” said Jerry Dombowsky, Transit and Programs Manager with the City of Kelowna. “Drivers and transit riders should know that we continue to work in partnership to look at new and innovative ways to improve security.”
For more information on the project, how the cameras will operate, and the results from the 2015-16 pilot project, please consult the Questions and Answers. To find out more about BC Transit’s privacy policy, please visit the privacy section.
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Media Contact:
Jonathon Dyck, BC Transit Communications Manager
Media@bctransit.com | 250-995-5720
