NYC mayor and governor unveil bus speed-up plan

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled a comprehensive plan on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, aimed at dramatically speeding up the city's notoriously slow bus service. The joint initiative, titled "Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service," targets a 20% increase in speeds along 50 priority corridors, which could save riders up to six minutes on each one-way trip.

The plan represents a significant collaboration between the mayor's administration, which controls city streets, and the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the buses. Officials said the goal is to give precious time back to the more than two million New Yorkers who rely on buses daily, many of whom live in neighborhoods without subway access. Approximately 75% of bus riders are people of color, and 76% live in households earning less than $100,000 a year.

"For too long, our buses have been stuck in traffic instead of keeping pace with the city that never sleeps," Mayor Mamdani said in a statement. "We're investing in faster, more reliable buses because New Yorkers deserve a transit system that respects their time." He illustrated the cumulative impact, noting that...