New positions focus on bus and bike lane expansion
Capacity Building in Transportation Agency
The preliminary budget allocates resources to hire 20 new Department of Transportation positions specifically devoted to bus and bike lane projects by June 30, 2027. These additions represent recognition that staffing shortages have constrained the agency’s ability to plan and implement the street redesigns mandated by the Streets Master Plan.
The new positions address a problem documented in detail by the Independent Budget Office. In a comprehensive 2025 report, the IBO found that the prior administration’s hiring freeze had reduced staffing in key DOT units responsible for bus lane planning and implementation. The agency lost dozens of employees in critical positions between 2019 and 2024.
Addressing Prior Administration’s Failures
Former Mayor Eric Adams had announced nearly $1 billion in funding for the Streets Master Plan but failed to provide the staffing necessary to execute the plan. As a result, the agency fell far behind on the mandate to install 150 miles of bus lanes and 250 miles of bike lanes. The Adams administration blamed staff shortages for missing required targets.
Rather than addressing staffing constraints, the prior administration maintained a “2-for-1” hiring policy under which agencies could only hire for one vacant position after two employees had left. This policy severely limited the agency’s ability to build capacity. Mayor Mamdani announced in his budget presentation that the city is ending this policy.
Current Administration Priorities
New DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn identified staffing challenges as a key initial priority when he spoke to reporters on Inauguration Day. He stated that the agency needed to staff up to address infrastructure challenges. The budget allocation for 20 new positions represents a first response to these capacity constraints.
The new positions will be distributed across different units within the agency but will focus on those responsible for bus and bike lane expansion. With additional staff, the agency should be able to increase the pace of planning and implementation for street redesign projects.
Long-Term Infrastructure Investment
Beyond the specific 20 new positions, the budget provides an additional $5 million per year for bus and bike lane projects over four years. This funding recognizes that the city needs sustained investment in transportation infrastructure that serves all New Yorkers, not just those who drive private vehicles.
The investment also reflects the mayor’s campaign priority of making buses faster and more reliable. The administration has committed to a 20 percent increase in bus speeds, which requires both dedicated bus lanes and signal priority for buses. These street design changes require planning and project management capacity within the DOT.
Rebuilding After Years of Neglect
The preliminary budget’s transportation investments represent an effort to rebuild city capacity after years of what transportation advocates characterized as an antagonistic approach to bus and bike projects. The prior administration froze critical safety projects and funding while prioritizing private vehicle infrastructure.
Mamdani has explicitly committed to reviving the Streets Master Plan and announced plans to restart or complete multiple projects that Adams had canceled or left incomplete. These include bus lanes on Madison Avenue and Fordham Road, as well as neighborhood bike networks in several parts of the city.
Public Transportation as Economic Development
Investment in bus and bike infrastructure represents not only transportation policy but also economic development strategy. Faster, more reliable bus service benefits working-class New Yorkers who depend on public transportation and cannot afford private vehicles. Bike infrastructure supports small businesses and makes neighborhoods more attractive places to live and work.
For more information on transportation planning and DOT activities, see NYC Department of Transportation website, Streetsblog New York City, and Citizens Budget Commission analysis of city capital budgets.
