Days before NYC mayoral election, MTA chair trashes Mamdani's pitch for free buses

As the election draws near in New York City, Mayor's race frontrunner Zohran Mamdani's promise of free buses has hit a major roadblock. With just six days left before voters cast their ballots, MTA Chair Andrew Lieber has essentially doused hopes of fare-free rides on all city buses.

The estimated annual cost for eliminating fares would be staggering, with some suggesting it could reach upwards of $630 million. However, Lieber claims the real price tag is significantly higher and could exceed $1 billion in the coming years, assuming stricter enforcement of bus fares to prevent fare evasion. Interestingly, recent MTA data shows that a substantial portion of Select Bus Service riders and local bus users did not pay their fares during the third quarter of 2025.

Lieber's comments have sparked outrage among Mamdani's supporters, who believe that the real issue is addressing economic inequality rather than simply cutting costs. The MTA Chair has repeatedly dismissed free buses as a viable solution, citing concerns about demand for more buses and the potential need for additional bus drivers and depots.

In contrast to his claims of impartiality, Lieber has strong ties to both Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who first appointed him to the MTA. The situation has left many wondering whether Lieber is playing politics with the election outcome, but he maintains that the agency's position remains unchanged.

The real challenge ahead will be finding an affordable solution to boost mass transit funding without pricing out low-income riders. As the mayoral race heats up, one thing is clear: free buses are no longer a viable option for New York City commuters.

I'm so done with Lieber's excuse-making ! It's like he thinks we're all born yesterday and can't see through his games . Free buses aren't just about cutting costs, it's about making public transport affordable for everyone, especially those who already struggle to make ends meet . I mean, come on, $630-1 billion? That's a small price to pay for people's dignity . And btw, how can he keep saying he's impartial when his ties to Mamdani and Cuomo are so obvious? It's all about playing politics and screwing over the little guy

Ugh, I just don't get why they can't find a way to make public transportation cheaper? It's like they're trying to keep it super expensive on purpose! $1 billion?! That's crazy talk! And what about all the people who can't afford fares because of poverty or something? It feels like they're just pushing them even further out. I get that reducing costs is important, but is it really worth hurting low-income folks? Can't we find a way to make transit affordable for everyone?!

omg what's going on with this MTA guy? He's just dragging it out to keep free buses from happening I mean, I get that it's gonna cost money, but come on $1billion?! that's crazy! and what about all those people who don't pay their fares anyway? shouldn't we be thinking of ways to make transit more affordable for everyone not just the people who are already struggling to afford it? I'm so confused, is he really playing politics or does he just genuinely think this isn't a good idea? and what about Zohran's promise of free buses? shouldn't we be looking at ways to make that happen instead of just saying no? it's like, what's the plan B here?

ugh this is so frustrating the MTA chair's priorities are totally off lol like what even is the point of having a public transportation system if people can just hop on without paying? but seriously, $1 billion is crazy talk! and to think they're gonna try to cut costs by enforcing stricter fare policies... that's just gonna hurt low-income riders even more i mean, come on, we need affordable options for everyone, not just the ones who can afford it

This whole situation feels soooo unfair . Like, I get it, MTA has to make some tough decisions and all that jazz... but can't we just find another way to fund mass transit without pricing out people who can barely afford the fare? It's like, we're already talking about $1 billion in costs, but what about exploring other revenue streams or partnerships with private companies?

I'm also kinda surprised that no one's really talking about how this affects low-income riders. I mean, if they can't afford to pay, they won't take the bus, right? That means we're not gonna see any benefits from "free buses" anyway ... and now it seems like MTA is just pitting those riders against each other .

I guess what's really bothering me is that this whole thing feels super political. Like, Lieber's got ties to Mamdani and Cuomo... yikes! Do we trust the MTA to make decisions based on facts or is this all just about who's gonna win the election?

OMG I'm literally FUMING right now!!! Zohran Mamdani was so close to making NYC bus fares FREE and now Andrew Lieber is basically RUINING it all! I mean, $630 million or over a BILLION?!?! That's insane! But you know what the kicker is? The MTA Chair has TIES to Mamdani AND Cuomo like, come on dude! It's like he's playing politics with our lives... err, I mean, bus fares. What really hurts is that it's not even about the money, it's about addressing economic inequality and providing equal access to public transportation for all. But noooo, instead of working towards a solution, Lieber just wants to stick it to the people who need it most! The thought of having to pay for a bus ride just because I'm low-income is SO DISGUSTING! We deserve better than that!

I'm surprised by the MTA Chair's stance on free buses . The numbers do add up - $630 million to $1 billion is a lot of money . But, you're right, it's not just about cutting costs . Addressing economic inequality and ensuring affordable transportation for low-income riders is key .

It's interesting that recent MTA data shows a significant portion of Select Bus Service riders didn't pay their fares . Maybe this could be an opportunity to explore other funding options or incentives for users who do pay? The mayor's campaign has already highlighted the need for affordable transportation, so it's time for the city to get creative and find solutions that work for everyone .

Lieber's ties to Mamdani and Cuomo might raise some eyebrows , but it's hard to deny the concerns around fairness and equity in this decision . One thing is clear: we need to keep pushing for innovative solutions that prioritize the needs of all New Yorkers .

Ugh, I'm getting so frustrated with this whole situation ... it's like they're trying to make transportation unaffordable for low-income folks. Free buses were supposed to be a game-changer for NYC commuters, but now it seems like that's just not gonna happen . The MTA's numbers on fare evasion are pretty sketchy too - if some people aren't paying their fares anyway, why do we need to raise costs even more? ... meanwhile, the front-runner's team is still trying to spin this as a 'safety' issue and I'm just like, come on ... can't we find a way to make mass transit work for everyone, not just the ones with deep pockets?

I think it's actually a great idea for Zohran Mamdani to make all city buses free. I mean, who doesn't love the idea of getting on the bus without paying? It's not like we're talking about cutting some minor expense here, we're talking about giving people back their hard-earned cash that they could be using elsewhere... like buying a coffee or something. And yeah, sure, there might be some extra costs associated with it, but who's counting? We can just magic up the money somehow.

And let's be real, if MTA Chair Andrew Lieber is so concerned about the potential cost, maybe he should start by looking at his own expenses and cut back on whatever lavish lifestyle he's got going on. I mean, we're talking about a guy who's basically in bed with Mamdani and Cuomo... talk about conflict of interest.

And yeah, sure, some riders might not pay their fares, but that just means they're trying to be cool and free-spirited, right? It's all about choice and personal responsibility. The MTA should just be happy that people are using the service in the first place!

this is so unfair! Mamdani's promise was all about equality & making public transport more accessible to everyone . It's not just about cutting costs, it's about people's lives . How can Lieber say he's impartial when his ties go all the way back to Cuomo? What about all those people who don't pay fares anyway? isn't that a free service for everyone?

can u blv that lieber's gotta be playin politics here? like, he knows mamdani's gonna win and he's just tryna protect his own seat the mta chair is always talkin 'bout 'cost savings' but it's all about who u know, right? i mean, him bein related to cuomo and all that... meanwhile, low-income folks like me are stuck payin more for bus rides just so he can keep his job

I'm so done with politicians making empty promises . The whole free bus thing was just a great way to get votes and get elected, but it seems like Mayor Mamdani's team didn't think that one through . I mean, come on $630 million or even $1 billion is still a lot of money . And what about the people who can't afford buses anyway? It's not fair to just say no to them .

I don't trust MTA Chair Lieber one bit . He's got ties to Mamdani and Cuomo, which is like, a total conflict of interest . And now he's saying that free buses are out the door? It's just politics as usual . We need to figure out how to fund mass transit without leaving behind people who can't afford it .

I'm literally so frustrated about this . Like, I get it that eliminating fares would be super expensive, but come on! Zohran's promise was part of his entire platform and now MTA Chair Lieber just kinda shut down the whole idea . And can we talk about how unfair it is to blame low-income riders for being able to pay their fares? I mean, what if they're actually struggling to make ends meet? It's like, a free bus isn't just gonna magically solve all our economic problems .

It's kinda suspicious that Lieber has ties to Mamdani and Cuomo, you know? Like, maybe he's just trying to protect his own interests instead of focusing on the people who need this most . But I guess we'll have to wait and see what else happens during the election . One thing's for sure though - it's gonna be a wild ride trying to figure out how to fund mass transit without pricing out low-income riders

I'm totally with Zohran Mamdani on this one . I mean, come on, $1 billion? That's just crazy talk! If he can't make it work without breaking the bank, maybe he should rethink his whole "free buses" thing. And let's be real, if people are evading fares anyway, that's not really a problem to solve... just get rid of the fines and get on with it . It's all about the politics and protecting those deep pockets, imo .

the mta chair's move on the free bus front feels super shady mamdani had a real shot at making mass transit more affordable and now it's all being doused in red tape what's really going on here? is lieber just playing politics with the election outcome or is there some legit financial concern we should be aware of?