JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Surveillance cameras, coming soon to a city bus near you. The Jacksonville Transit Authority is installing cameras on most city buses.
These cameras allow people to see around every corner of the bus, inside and out. So from when the bus pulls up to the stop, to when a passenger gets on to when they're waiting to get off the bus. "The cameras will make it a lot easier, a lot better," said rider Robert Rhinehart.
Everyday hundreds of people watch as these buses pull up to get them around town. But now these cameras will also be watching them while they're riding the bus. Mike Miller with JTA says they're hoping the cameras make people feel safer. "We are watching to make sure the safety is at the foremost of our mind," said Miller.
It's part of a half million dollar federal grant JTA got earlier this year. Each bus has 6-7 cameras in it, watching every move. Riders we talked with say it's already making them feel safer. "It's a good thing because there are a lot of crazy people down here," said rider Joshua Thorton.
Miller says while they've never had any major problems on the buses, they're hoping this makes people think twice before starting something. "We're not asking for names. In fact, the only time we'll utilize this is when asked by a law enforcement official," said Miller.
This grant covers cameras for about half JTA's buses. They're hoping to have the rest equipped in the near future.
