Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani Unveil Historic Plan to Build the Fastest, Best Bus System in New York City History

New York City Council Member Tiffany Caban said, "This investment in faster buses and better service across the five boroughs is desperately needed. Working class New Yorkers rely on our buses to get to work, to see loved ones and to access services. But when they wait at bus stops, they too often encounter buses that are late, slow or don't show up at all. I'm glad to see that we're delivering on fast, better buses to serve New Yorkers."

New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman said, "For hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, including myself, bus service is the primary way we get to work, school, medical appointments and other locations around the city. Investing in faster, more reliable and more accessible bus service is a commitment to equity, quality of life and the economic vitality of our neighborhoods. I applaud Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul, the MTA and the Department of Transportation for coming together to advance this ambitious vision for the future of our bus system. I look forward to working closely with the MTA, NYC DOT and both the Mayor's and Governor's office to ensure the communities in my district are able to experience these improvements. By delivering a better, faster and more dependable bus system, all New Yorkers will benefit."

Riders Alliance Executive Director Besty Plum said, "Bus riders across New York organized and won a visionary plan for fast buses and the chance to win back hours of our lives. By reigniting a real partnership between NYC DOT and the MTA, Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul are creating a historic opportunity to make buses dramatically faster and more reliable for the New Yorkers who depend on them every day. Slow buses are not just an inconvenience. They are a barrier to opportunity, a drain on family time and a daily indignity for the New Yorkers who rely on them to reach work, school, childcare, healthcare and other basic needs and opportunities. Getting buses right means getting the basics of city life right. Riders built the power that made this moment possible, and we'll keep organizing until these promises become real improvements in every borough."

Regional Plan Association Executive Director Kate Slevin said, "Regional Plan Association congratulates the Governor, the Mayor and the New York City Department of Transportation for advancing this plan to make bus service faster, more frequent and more reliable. These improvements are long overdue and can't come soon enough for New Yorkers who depend on buses every day. Faster, more efficient bus service is essential to building a more sustainable, equitable and economically competitive city."

Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA Executive Director Lisa Daglian said, "For too long, bus riders have endured unbearably slow, unreliable trips, due in part to politics, but that's about to change. Concrete investments that put bus riders front and center - including bus priority corridors and all-door boarding - will speed up their rides so they can finally move faster than a chicken. We applaud the extraordinary partnership and political will shown by the Governor, Mayor, MTA, DOT and enforcement agencies, which will make a difference in the lives of millions of New York riders."

Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York Executive Director Sharon McLennon Wier, Ph.D., MSEd., CRC, LMHC said, "The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) supports equitable bus expansion that allows for people with disabilities, seniors and all riders to benefit from experiencing accessible, safe and time-efficient service to and from their destinations. The proposed faster bus design in Brooklyn targets neighborhoods where numerous people with disabilities, seniors and riders who use baby strollers and grocery carts. These riders must have a way to onboard and deboard these buses safely. Fast bus service cannot take for granted safe and accessible transit for all."

AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel said, "New Yorkers deserve a transit system that keeps pace with how they live, work and age. Improvements that make buses faster, more reliable and more accessible are especially important for older adults and others who depend on public transportation every day. AARP New York welcomes this commitment to strengthening bus service and helping people remain active, connected and independent in their communities."

People-Oriented Cities Executive Director Walter Hook said, "With Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service, we at People-Oriented Cities are thrilled that NYC DOT and MTA are committed to truly moving the needle on bus speeds and reliability. We look forward to partnering with both agencies to help ensure that buses are meeting the ambitious targets set forth in this report and that the five Rapid Bus corridors reach the level of true, world-class Bus Rapid Transit."