NYC bus riders could save minutes on every trip under new Mamdani-Hochul 'Next Stop' plan
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Mayor Mamdani campaigned on a promise to make buses fast and free - and while he can't deliver free buses without the state legislature, he is partnering with Gov. Hochul to make them faster.
A plan called "Next Stop: Better Buses, Faster Service" commits the city and state to improvements that could speed up commutes by up to six minutes per ride on at least 50 priority bus corridors across the five boroughs.
The average city bus travels at 8 mph, but these changes could increase bus speeds by up to 20%, including on 25 of the slowest bus routes in the city.
Goals for the city and state by 2030 include:
- 28 bus lane projects across the five boroughs by the end of the year.
- Five "rapid bus corridors" in underserved parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
- "All-door boarding" to reduce bottlenecks caused by riders by allowing them to board from either the front or the back of the bus, despite ongoing fare evasion concerns, by 2027.
- Increased traffic surveillance automatically tickets those who block bus lanes, police officers on 20 daily routes, up from 14.
- 25 "queue jump" signals, separate traffic lights for buses that get a green light before other vehicles, and 35 other signals that recognize when a bus is approaching and maintain a green light.
- 300 new bus shelters by 2028, adding seating and trees at more bus stops and making dozens of stops wheelchair accessible every year.
- 2,500 new buses, replacing more than 40% of the fleet.
The mayor, Gov. Hochul and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber will be making an announcement on their plan later this morning.
Riders Alliance Executive Director Betsy Plum cheered the bus plan in a statement that said in part:
"Bus riders across New York organized and won a visionary plan for fast buses and the chance to win back hours of our lives. By reigniting a real partnership between NYC DOT and the MTA, Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul are creating a historic opportunity to make buses dramatically faster and more reliable for the New Yorkers who depend on them every day. Speeding up buses by at least 20% on several dozen critical corridors alongside the advent of new rapid bus routes would amount to the biggest improvements to bus service in decades. They place unprecedented value on riders' time and afford us the dignity we deserve."
See the Plan:
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