Overview
- Speaking in San Juan, Governor Kathy Hochul said she will not endorse making New York City buses free without a detailed fiscal analysis and confirmed funding.
- MTA president Janno Lieber called for technical studies of any change to the agency’s funding base and urged prioritizing low-income riders in any fare policy.
- Independent estimates put the cost of eliminating bus fares at about $800 million per year, which would need to be reliably covered to avoid service impacts.
- Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani campaigned on free buses, universal childcare, and a rent freeze, proposing to fund them by raising the corporate tax to 11.5% and adding a 2% surcharge on incomes above $1 million, measures that require state approval.
- Hochul praised Mamdani and agreed to meet with him soon, leaving the proposal unresolved until studies, budget choices, and legislative action in early 2026.