MTA CEO Slams ‘Half-Baked’ Free Bus Plan: Is Mayoral Candidate Mamdani Selling a $1 Billion Fantasy?

MTA BOMBSHELL: CEO Says ‘Free Bus’ Plan is a ‘Straight-Up Fraud’ and Fails the Math Test

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New York NY, the debate over the financial viability of fare-free buses in New York City has reached a boiling point just days before the November 2025 mayoral election. On October 29, 2025, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber publicly and forcefully disputed the core proposal of Democratic nominee and State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, calling the candidate’s signature “free bus” platform “half-baked” and questioning its true cost.

Mamdani, a vocal advocate for transit affordability, is campaigning heavily on making all city buses permanently free. But the city’s top transit executive says the numbers simply don’t add up.

The MTA’s Hard-Line Stance: ‘The Math Don’t Math’

MTA Chair Janno Lieber’s comments on NY1 directly challenged the key claims of the Mamdani campaign:

1. The Underestimated Cost

The Mamdani campaign has estimated the annual cost of the universal free bus program at around $700 million. However, Lieber and MTA officials argue the full cost would be significantly higher, potentially exceeding $1 billion when all lost revenue and necessary service impacts are considered. Lieber has stressed that the MTA’s financial stability, which was “hard won,” could be jeopardized by unthorough and expensive policy changes.

2. The Equity Problem

Lieber’s primary argument is one of efficiency and fairness. He contends that a universal free bus program would divert hundreds of millions of dollars toward subsidizing riders who do not require financial assistance, including those in wealthier neighborhoods.

Instead, the MTA chair prefers targeted equity programs like the existing Fair Fares initiative, which provides half-price fares to low-income New Yorkers, ensuring transit funding is directed to those who need it most.

The History of the Free Bus Debate

Mamdani is no stranger to the concept, having co-developed and launched a fare-free bus pilot program on five city routes in 2023–2024.

• Pilot Results: While the pilot, which ended in August 2024, did see ridership increases, MTA officials were reportedly skeptical, arguing that the program did not achieve its goal of substantially attracting new riders away from private cars.
• A Revenue Hole: The MTA currently relies on bus fare revenue, which it projects will jump from roughly $700 million to $1 billion in the coming years. Eliminating this entire revenue stream without a dedicated, stable, and massive replacement fund could force the MTA to reduce service, ultimately hurting the very riders the plan intends to help.

Experts and insiders agree: a major, radical change to the city’s vast transportation network requires far more rigorous study and a clear, sustainable funding plan, something the MTA says Mamdani’s proposal lacks.

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