Mayor pushes ambitious transit agenda as MTA implements 10-cent fare hike.
New Mayor Confronts Transit Challenges as Fares Rise
Mayor Zohran Mamdani faces immediate challenges to his campaign promise of free buses as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority implemented a 10-cent fare increase on January 4, 2026, raising the cost of subway and bus rides from $2.90 to $3. The fare increase, approved during the prior Adams administration, came just days after Mamdani took office, creating an awkward juxtaposition between his affordability messaging and a de facto price hike for transit riders. The mayor responded by riding the Q70, one of the city’s few fare-free bus routes, and emphasizing his commitment to eventually making all buses free and fast.
State Control and Funding Barriers
The reality of Mamdani’s transit agenda is complicated by the fact that the mayor does not control the MTA, which is operated by a state-controlled board. The governor recommends six of the board’s fourteen voting members while the mayor recommends four. Governor Hochul has been cool to the idea of free buses, noting that no budgetary provision currently exists for such a program. Making buses free citywide would require either approximately $3.8 billion in annual new funding or significant revenue generation from alternative sources.
Fare Evasion Complicates the Conversation
The MTA estimates that over 700 people per minute are fare evading on buses, with 44 percent of bus riders not paying fares in early 2025 compared to less than 10 percent on subways. This widespread nonpayment complicates arguments for free buses, as MTA officials claim the agency cannot operate effectively without fare revenue. However, transit advocates argue that fare evasion itself demonstrates demand for free buses and that current systems are insufficient.
Long-Term Vision and Political Reality
Mamdani has indicated the free-bus campaign would involve replacing current fare revenue rather than simply eliminating it. Analysts have suggested that parking revenue could fund free transit if the city metered all 3 million parking spots. For more information, see reporting on fare evasion challenges and creative funding proposals. The mayor’s success in delivering on his free-bus promise will test his administration’s ability to navigate state bureaucracy.
