Winnipeg Transit continues to hone in on operator and passenger security with a pilot project started in 2021 now permanently in place for all 607 buses in Transit's fleet. The project live streams bus camera feeds into Transit's Control Centre in case of emergencies. 

“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 news release. “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 Councillor Janice Lukes, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Public Works in a news release. “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.”

All bus operators have been trained to immediately contact Transit’s Control Centre in emergencies. The Transit Control Centre is staffed by Transit supervisors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Winnipeg Transit kicked off the pilot project in 2019 by installing LTE modems to update the technology and technical capabilities of its fleet. The updated technology allows the bus cameras to connect with the Transit Control Centre in real-time during an emergency. The initiative did not require the installation of any additional equipment.

For more information on Winnipeg Transit’s live camera feed safety initiative, please visit winnipegtransit.com.

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