NYC Mayor Boosts Funding for Bus and Bike Projects

Mamdani administration proposes $5 million per year to expand transit and cycling infrastructure

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani's preliminary budget includes an additional $5 million per year over the next four years to fund more bus and bike lane projects, filling a budget gap that had hindered the city's ability to meet the benchmarks established under the Streets Master Plan law.

Why it matters

The increased funding aims to help the city's Department of Transportation catch up on critical bus and bike lane projects after the previous administration was seen as antagonistic towards such initiatives. Advocates have welcomed the move as a "breath of fresh air" that could lead to faster bus service and safer cycling.

The details

The proposed $5 million annual allocation would begin to address staffing shortages in key DOT units responsible for expanding bus and bike infrastructure. The budget also includes plans to add 20 new positions specifically devoted to these projects by June 2027. The funding is viewed as a "down payment" to fully staff and resource the DOT to meet the ambitious goals of the Streets Master Plan.

  • The additional $5 million per year in funding would begin in the current fiscal year and continue for the next four years.
  • The 20 new DOT positions devoted to bus and bike projects are planned to be added by June 30, 2027.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City, who is proposing the increased funding for bus and bike projects in his preliminary budget.

Mike Flynn

The new commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, who will oversee the implementation of the expanded bus and bike lane initiatives.

Ben Furnas

The executive director of Transportation Alternatives, a transportation advocacy group that has welcomed the mayor's budget proposal as a "breath of fresh air" after the previous administration's perceived antagonism towards such projects.

Danny Pearlstein

The director of policy and communication for the Riders Alliance, a transit advocacy organization that praised the mayor's commitment to speeding up bus service by 20%.

Corey Johnson

The former City Council speaker who was instrumental in the creation of the Streets Master Plan, which set ambitious goals for expanding bus and bike infrastructure in New York City.

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What they’re saying

“We're looking forward to seeing a fully funded and staffed DOT that's able to use this funding to meet the ambitions of the Streets Plan. This is a breath of fresh air after an administration that was antagonistic towards bus and bike projects and froze critical safety projects and funding.”

— Ben Furnas, Executive Director, Transportation Alternatives (streetsblog.org)

“The mayor's increased investment in fairer, safer streets leans into New York's superpower as a transit, biking and walking city. With his commitment to speeding up buses by 20 percent, this new baseline funding will help deliver much faster service and save riders a lot of time.”

— Danny Pearlstein, Director of Policy and Communication, Riders Alliance (streetsblog.org)

What’s next

The mayor's budget proposal will now go through the city's budget process, with the City Council needing to approve the final spending plan. If approved, the additional funding and staffing for bus and bike projects would begin to be implemented in the current fiscal year.

The takeaway

Mayor Mamdani's budget proposal represents a significant shift in the city's approach to transportation, prioritizing investments in bus and bike infrastructure after years of perceived neglect under the previous administration. This funding boost could help the city make tangible progress on its ambitious Streets Master Plan goals and deliver faster, safer transit and cycling options for New Yorkers.