The next mayor’s smartest move? Go all in on buses. New York City can transform its broken transit system overnight without waiting for billions in funding, endless studies, or Albany’s approval. The mayor controls the streets, and with congestion pricing now in effect, there’s more space than ever to make buses the fastest, most reliable way to get around.
It shouldn’t have to take decades or megaprojects to fix our transit system. A single electric bus can carry as many riders as 40 cars. Dedicated lanes, all-door boarding, and traffic enforcement cameras can make them move faster today. Additionally, bus routes can be more easily adjusted to accommodate future changes. Meanwhile, subway expansion — slow, costly, and outside City Hall’s control — can’t be the only answer.
The benefits are undeniable. Faster buses mean less time wasted in congestion, fewer respiratory diseases from tailpipe emissions, less noise pollution, and fewer traffic deaths. Cities around the world — like Bogotá, Mexico City, Cleveland,and Jakarta — have built world-class Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) networks, proving it’s possible with the right leadership.
At Urban Design Forum, our Fellows have envisioned a bold solution: a citywide and regional Bus Rapid Transit network that could be implemented immediately. Their plan would take advantage of the new space freed up by congestion pricing and align with local climate initiatives, including the MTA’s $6 billion climate resilience roadmap. The next mayor can take decisive action to expand transit options with BRT, and more broadly transform our city streets to connect our neighborhoods, as highlighted in our Vision for a Better City.
It could start with dedicated lanes on arterial roads and highways, marked by paint and plastic — low-cost interventions that deliver immediate benefits while subway expansions require billions. The first step: connect transit hubs and bypass Manhattan’s Central Business District to better serve all five boroughs and parts of Northern New Jersey. Over the next 1–5 years, strategic investments in bus terminals, depots, concrete lane separation, and workforce development would solidify the system.
A Bus Rapid Transit network is an air quality solution, a flood resilience tool, and a transit lifeline. When subways shut down during torrential rain, buses keep moving. When underground stations reach temperatures of almost 100 degrees, buses offer a cooler, more accessible alternative. When outer-borough neighborhoods lack subway access, a new bus line can be launched overnight.
For years, drivers have blamed transit deserts or unreliable, overcrowded, and unsafe transit for their car dependence. But a well-planned BRT system can change that — offering the convenience of a car without the cost, delays, or gridlock. With dedicated lanes, buses can finally reach transit deserts and provide a real alternative.
If the next mayor gets this right, there will be no more excuses for choosing cars over public transit — just a system that works. It’s a chance to leave a lasting legacy — one that transforms New York into a world-class transit city, improves daily life for millions, and strengthens the city’s economy for generations to come.
Guillermo Gómez is the Director of Programs at Urban Design Forum, where he leads the planning and team behind the Next New York series, Public Works, and New City Critics. Since 2018, he has spearheaded key initiatives, including Good Form, Streets Ahead, Shape Shift, Work Force, Power After the Pandemic, and Care for Hudson Square. Most recently, he led Rewire, supporting 48 civic leaders to develop Five Visions for Building Climate-Positive Neighborhoods.
