"The Senate recognizes the importance of faster and more affordable buses to ensure that New Yorkers who rely on the system can get to their destinations quickly, safely, and in a way that does not burden New Yorkers already struggling to make ends meet. Given these goals, the Senate continues to support a revival and expansion of the fare-free bus program."
"The $15 million program, which ran between 2023 and 2024, made one bus line in each of the five boroughs free to ride. But it came to an unceremonious end in September 2024 after Albany lawmakers declined to renew it, and the MTA deemed it a failure."
Democratic leaders in the New York State Senate and Assembly have included proposals in their fiscal year 2027 budgets to resurrect a fare-free bus pilot program. The original $15 million program, which ran from 2023 to 2024, provided free bus service on one line in each of the five boroughs but ended in September 2024 when lawmakers declined renewal and the MTA deemed it unsuccessful. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who sponsored the original pilot while in the Assembly, has made fare-free buses central to his mayoral platform. The Senate proposal emphasizes the importance of affordable transportation for struggling New Yorkers. Governor Kathy Hochul, who has been skeptical of the proposal, must approve any restart. State budget negotiations must conclude by April 1.
#fare-free-buses #public-transportation #new-york-state-budget #mayor-mamdani #transit-affordability
Read at www.amny.com
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