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Mamdani Names Mike Flynn as NYC DOT Commissioner at Midnight Swearing-In

State control of fares leaves bus speedups as the mayor’s immediate lever.

Overview

  • Flynn will replace Ydanis Rodriguez as New York City's transportation commissioner.
  • A veteran of NYC DOT from 2005 to 2014 and now a TYLin executive, Flynn drew praise from transit advocates as a seasoned, pragmatic choice.
  • The mayor’s goal of fare-free buses lies outside DOT authority and would require a funding deal with Governor Kathy Hochul and the state-run MTA.
  • Flynn can act quickly on bus speed by expanding protected lanes, using enforcement tools, and advancing street redesigns to meet stalled legal targets for bus and bike lanes.
  • New York’s buses average about 12.9 km/h and serve many lower- and middle-income outer-borough riders, highlighting the equity stakes of faster service.