BusPatrol Opens Connecticut Headquarters In Downtown Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, CT — BusPatrol opened its Connecticut headquarters in downtown Bridgeport this week, establishing the office after partnering with the city on automated school bus stop-arm enforcement.

Bridgeport launched a pilot program in September 2023 to test the technology. One year later, the city expanded the program citywide.

Subscribe

According to the city, BusPatrol also plans to invest in the local economy through community engagement, school outreach and support for local organizations.

"The safety of our children is one of our highest obligations," Mayor Joe Ganim said in a statement. "As parents, we all know the feeling of watching our child's hand leave ours as they run toward the school bus. Programs like this provide peace of mind for families while improving the overall quality of life in our city.

"BusPatrol has helped bring Bridgeport to a new level of technology in traffic safety. It was shocking to see how many drivers were illegally passing stopped school buses, but this program is helping us reduce those violations. Our hope is that one day we will reach zero."

According to the city, 9,860 illegal school bus passings were recorded during the first six months of the pilot program. The city said the program now helps protect about 20,800 students in the Bridgeport Public Schools district.

Buses equipped with BusPatrol technology have dual stop arms and cameras that can capture images of motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses.

"When the program began, the number of violations was extremely high," Police Chief Roderick Porter said. "Over the past few years, we've seen a steady decline in violations, which is indicative of changing driver behavior. That's the goal of this program to encourage motorists to slow down in school zones and whenever they see a stopped school bus. Changing behavior takes time, and unfortunately distracted driving continues to be a challenge. However, this program serves as an important reminder for drivers to stay alert and follow the law. Ultimately, our goal is protecting our students while improving traffic safety throughout the City of Bridgeport."

Justin Meyers, BusPatrol's president and chief innovation officer, said the new headquarters reflects the company's long-term commitment to Bridgeport.

"Today's ribbon cutting represents our long-term commitment to the City of Bridgeport and the people we are privileged to serve," Meyers said. "We're grateful for the partnership of Mayor Joe Ganim, Dr. Avery, Chief Roderick Porter, the City Council, and so many community leaders who have worked alongside us to make this program a success. By investing in Bridgeport and establishing a local presence, we're doing our part to make our streets safer for every child and every family."

According to the city, Bridgeport and BusPatrol plan to continue working together on student safety initiatives and technology.