Live
Mamdani and Hochul Launch Plan To Make Buses Faster
5D AGOLOCALNYC MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANITRANSIT

Mamdani and Hochul Launch Plan To Make Buses Faster

What's the gist?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled "Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service," an $882 million plan to speed up buses by 20% on 50 priority corridors. It would save riders up to six minutes per trip. The plan does not address Mamdani's campaign promise of free buses.

Context

NYC buses carry 2.75 million riders daily, the most of any American city. But, the average speed is just 8 mph, the slowest of any major American city. Mamdani campaigned on making buses "fast and free," but state control of the MTA has long limited what city mayors can do alone on transit. Hochul has been partnering with Mamdani on childcare and now buses, as she runs for another term as Governor.

Positive takes

Delivering on a Core Promise. Mamdani followed through on the "fast" half of his "fast and free" campaign pledge, partnering with Albany to unlock $882 million and produce a concrete, detailed 51-page plan targeting the city's slowest routes.
A Win for Working-Class Riders. Bus riders are disproportionately low-income, women, and people of color. Saving even six minutes per trip can mean the difference between making it to work on time, avoiding late daycare pickup fees, or skipping a costly car payment.
Breaking a City-State Gridlock. MTA chief Janno Lieber noted that the prior administration was an unwilling partner on bus improvements. Mamdani's willingness to work with Hochul and the MTA signals a new era of collaboration that could accelerate long-overdue transit upgrades.

Negative takes

Free Buses Still Nowhere in Sight. Mamdani's signature campaign promise — free buses — is conspicuously absent from the plan. With Gov. Hochul and the MTA openly skeptical, critics say the mayor is letting a central pledge drift into vague future talk.
Promises vs. Fiscal Reality. This is not the first time Mamdani has had to walk back or delay a major campaign commitment when confronted with the costs and political constraints of governing, raising questions about whether voters got the candidate they thought they elected.
Long Timelines, Uncertain Delivery. Many of the plan's biggest goals — rapid bus corridors, all-door boarding, new shelters — stretch to 2027, 2028, and even 2030. Advocates and riders have heard ambitious transit timelines before, and skeptics note that plans without accountability often slip.