Detroit —will begin outfitting its bus fleet with surveillance equipment in an ongoing effort to curb violence on some of its most troubled routes. Detroit’’s Chief Operating Officer Gary Brown says the initial, $123,000 effort will equip 50 city buses with cameras within a month.

The safety upgrades come days after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed after attempting to quell a dispute between two other passengers on one of the city’s most problematic routes. The violent incident marks the latest attack among riders and drivers and highlights the need for safety upgrades within the system.

“The cameras will cut down on those fights and defuse them quicker,” Brown said. “This will make everybody understand that security is a top priority and you are being monitored.” Brown said eight cameras will be hard-wired into each bus, providing a comprehensive view as well as audio inside and outside.

The wireless feed will be transmitted to a server that’s accessible whenever needed. The initial equipment is being provided and installed by Canada-based SEON, which provided security cameras for the SMART bus system. Brown said the city will solicit bids to complete the work on an additional 200 buses in the fleet after federal transit officials complete a review of its request for proposals.

The effort is being funded through Federal Transit Administration dollars. The department has 445 total buses in its fleet, but has plans to retiree 100 and purchase 50 new buses. […]