Making buses fast and free for everyone to ride was one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s main policy planks on the campaign trail. And despite not getting the free part from Albany this year, he’s not giving up.

“You know, I’ve said time and again that we would deliver on making busses free by the time that I’m done being mayor,” said Mayor Mamdani. “And I’m just as confident in that.”

And the mayor has tasked Elizabeth Adams with getting it done.

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Elizabeth Adams as senior adviser for fast and free buses

  • Adams previously worked in government relations, community organizing and with Transportation Alternatives

  • The administration says a pilot program offering free rides on five bus routes showed the idea could work citywide

  • The Mamdani administration estimates free buses would cost $700 million annually, while the MTA estimates the cost at about $1 billion

“The fact that he is dedicating a role for fast and free busses really shows commitment from City Hall throughout all the agencies,” said Adams, who is now the mayor’s senior adviser for fast and free buses. “He ran on was fast and free busses. And I am here to help him achieve that priority, to make sure that that happens.”

Adams has worked in the City Council, in government relations and in community organizing, most recently with the safe streets advocacy organization Transportation Alternatives.

“I think that combination really puts me in a position to be able to bring partners and create coalitions to deliver real change when it comes to affordable transportation in our city,” said Adams.

“She understands that it’s unacceptable to be in such an incredible city,” said the mayor of Adams. “Yet, our buses are going five miles an hour. Such an incredible city. Yet one in five New Yorkers are struggling to afford to even get onto the bus.”

The state Legislature authorized a free bus pilot program in 2023 for five routes. That yearlong experiment expired, but Adams is fully on board with making it happen systemwide, which the Mamdani administration estimates will cost $700 million a year. However, the MTA, which controls the buses, pegs the cost at about $1 billion.

“The fact that we have seen the fare free pilot be such a success means that people are behind it, are looking for, are wanting to see this happen across our city,” said Adams. “So, there will be a lot of work, you know, working with our state colleagues and partners there. And then now, you know what, as I’m getting started to, is really looking at, how we’re delivering and rolling out our plans for better, faster busses. There’s a lot that we can really do right now.”

And it’s already started, from an offset bus lane on Fordham Road, to a center-running bus lane on Flatbush Avenue, to extending bus lanes from 42nd to 23rd streets on Madison Avenue.

“Time is money for New Yorkers. And we’re not just talking about numbers,” said Adams. “We’re talking about the difference in people’s daily lives.”

The administration is identifying 45 bus priority corridors where the plan is to increase bus speeds by 20%. But it’s still unclear how the city will make them free. MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber has expressed skepticism but said he is willing to meet with Adams.