Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious joint plan to transform New York City’s bus system, promising faster, more reliable service on 50 priority routes through dedicated lanes, new buses, and other improvements.
The initiative, dubbed “Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service,” aims to deliver the fastest and best bus system in the city’s history by addressing chronic delays that have long frustrated riders, officials said at an event in downtown Brooklyn.
“This historic investment will make our buses faster and more reliable for millions of New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” Mamdani said. The plan targets routes that are among the slowest in the city, many serving areas with limited transit alternatives.
Key elements include transforming 50 priority corridors with center-running bus lanes, transit signal priority, queue jumps, and all-door boarding. Automated camera enforcement will keep bus lanes clear on all 50 corridors by 2028. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will replace 40 percent of its aging fleet with 2,500 new buses.
Officials project average speed increases of 20 percent on the targeted routes, saving riders up to six minutes per trip and as much as 12 minutes per round-trip commute.
In Brooklyn, the first of five rapid bus corridors is planned for Flatbush Avenue, a route carrying more than 130,000 riders daily. The initial phase, already underway, features center-running lanes and new boarding islands, with future phases adding fully separated lanes and level boarding. Additional corridors include Northern Boulevard in Queens, 116th Street in Manhattan, White Plains Road in the Bronx, Utica and Church avenues in Brooklyn, and Victory Boulevard on Staten Island.
The city and state will also improve the rider experience with 100 new bus shelters by the end of this year and 300 more by 2031, plus benches or leaning bars at 875 stops annually, aiming for seating at every stop by 2035. More trees will provide shade at stops.
Mamdani emphasized the plan’s focus on working New Yorkers, noting that the city’s buses carry more riders than the next four largest U.S. bus systems combined, yet often travel at average speeds as low as 5 mph.
“Time is money in New York City,” Mamdani said. “We are going to give New Yorkers some of that time back. Six minutes, to be precise.”
Hochul highlighted the collaboration between City Hall and Albany, crediting the current partnership for advancing long-discussed improvements. She pointed to her administration’s $68 billion investment in public transit, which will help fund the new buses and other upgrades.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the plan builds on bus network redesigns and enforcement efforts, calling buses “the engine of equity” and affordability in the city. Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn and City Council Transportation Committee Chair Shaun Abreu also spoke in support.
Riders Alliance member-leader Andréa Albayeros Abdalah, a lifelong Flatbush bus rider, welcomed the plan, saying reliable service is essential for working New Yorkers juggling jobs and daily life.
The announcement comes with specific commitments: $254 million in city expense funding and more than $600 million in capital funding over five years. Officials said they will track progress with regular inter-agency coordination, performance metrics, and public accountability.
During a brief question-and-answer session, Mamdani and Lieber addressed union concerns about potential impacts on overtime from more efficient operations, stressing the need for partnership on maintenance and service reliability while keeping riders as the priority. Mamdani also reaffirmed his goal of making buses both fast and free.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
