In an effort to make riding the bus a safer experience, Metro Area Transit introduced its newest surveillance system. It consists of a system of cameras in every bus.

Eight new buses, each one with a price tag of over $300,000 will replace vehicles that have been on the road for 19 years. They are the first new buses in nine years and they will all be equipped with a video surveillance system. Five different cameras will be mounted somewhere on each bus.

"Curt Simon with Metro Area Transit says, "If there’s ever an incident that occurs on that bus for the safety and security of our drivers and our passengers and the public in general we're able to view that video and see exactly what happened, and reconstruct an accident or any other matter.”

Simon also says say the cameras protect taxpayers from people who want to sue the transit system for made up reasons. "It’s not a big brother. That's not what it’s about. It’s not us spying on our customers. It’s not us spying on our bus operators. It’s amazing how many times we had people who've made claims for accidents or injuries they've had on buses. And you know what? When we looked at the video, we couldn't find that they were ever really on the bus. So it really helps to deny claims.”

Installation of the cameras began in March and was completed in September.

Money for the new buses comes from stimulus funds. MAT anticipates receiving 24 additional new buses by August of next year.