Hochul Rejects Mamdani's Free Bus Plan

Governor Kathy Hochul has rejected Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's proposal to make Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus rides free across New York City's five boroughs. During the SOMOS organization’s political conference in Puerto Rico over the weekend, Hochul emphasized the importance of maintaining funding for the MTA, which relies heavily on fare revenue to operate effectively. She stated, "I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways."

While Hochul supports making transit more affordable, she is not in favor of eliminating fares entirely. She has already invested in the MTA’s $68.4 billion capital plan for infrastructure and subway safety improvements, and she is focused on preventing fare evasion, which cost the MTA $315 million in bus fare losses in 2022.

Mamdani, who will take office on January 1, has proposed raising taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals to fund his free bus initiative. However, any tax increase would require approval from both the state Legislature and the governor. Hochul, who is running for re-election in 2026, has expressed her opposition to raising taxes.

Despite this setback, Mamdani remains committed to his affordability agenda, which includes universal childcare and free public transportation. He has some support from state legislative leaders, including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who have expressed a willingness to work with him on affordability issues.

The city’s Independent Budget Office estimates that fare-free buses would cost around $652 million annually. The MTA's John McCarthy highlighted the need for rigorous analysis before implementing such a major change, comparing it to the careful study conducted for congestion pricing.

According to FingerLakes1.com, Hochul remains open to discussions with Mamdani about making MTA bus rides more affordable for those in need.

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