New York, NY —

Hundreds of city buses will be outfitted with surveillance cameras in response to the 2004 public transit bombings in London and Madrid. WNYC's Kathryn Herzog reports.

City transit officials admit the cameras may not prevent a would-be bomber, but will help investigators see inside a bus after a crime has been committed. More often, the crime will involve vandalism, theft or fraud if a bus is involved in an accident.

While New York has long used closed circuit cameras to monitor subway platforms, its playing catch-up to other big cities with more expansive systems. Officials say the $25 million program will also put recorders near turnstiles in about 60 subway stations.

If the program is successful, it will be expanded throughout the bus and subway system. Still undecided is whether cameras will be added to moving trains. Video footage will be saved for 45 days and then erased.

For WNYC, I'm Kathryn Herzog