ALBANY, NY –UNS: Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (SD-12) and Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani (AD-36) announced they have secured $12.3M for New York City bus service in the FY2025 New York State budget that the Governor signed into law on Monday.
$883,000 will go towards increased peak service on 5 express bus routes, $540,000 will go towards the M35, X6, and X64 buses, and $11 million will go towards reliability on 13 total routes with an eye to ridership, crowding, and equity.
“New Yorkers have spoken loud and clear that they want a more reliable and safe public transit system,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “We are delivering a significant level of funding to provide improved service, and I will continue to fight to make transit more affordable and desirable.”
“I am thrilled to announce that New York is taking serious steps towards getting congestion pricing right by investing over $12M to make buses more frequent and reliable,” said Assembly Member Zohran K. Mamdani. “This is an unprecedented state legislative victory. Following last year’s budget in which we invested in subway service for the first time with our “Fix the MTA” campaign, the legislature has shown further commitment to improving service for straphangers — this time for the bus. These faster, more reliable buses are exactly what New Yorkers deserve.”
These are evidence-backed investments hard-won in the legislators’ campaign to “Get Congestion Pricing Right.” Improving bus service has been central to the successful implementation of congestion pricing in other major world cities. Before London started congestion pricing, it increased bus service by 17%. As a result, congestion was reduced by 30% and bus travel in central London increased by 33%. This is also true in Stockholm, where expanded bus service led to congestion pricing success: traffic was reduced by 22%, and public sentiment towards the policy skyrocketed.
Starting in June, drivers will be charged $15 to drive south of 61st St in Manhattan. These investments in express buses will allow us to move into a greener future without only resorting to the stick. New Yorkers who currently rely on cars and lack subway access will be forced to choose between the new charge and much longer commutes. We need to give them a more attractive option.
In last year’s state budget, Gianaris and Mamdani averted the MTA’s fiscal cliff, reducing the proposed fare hike, and winning $35 million in historic funding for more frequent subway service on nights and weekends. This year’s transit wins build on that foundation to ensure better bus service from the very first day of congestion pricing.
