As Mamdani and Hochul celebrate congestion pricing, the mayor's free bus plan gets no air time

Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News on Jan 5, 2026

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Mayor Mamdani made his first post-inauguration appearance with Gov. Hochul on Monday at a rally to celebrate the one-year anniversary of New York City’s congestion pricing program.

But despite the event’s upbeat focus on the program reducing car traffic by 11% and generating upward of half-a-billion dollars in new revenue, lurking behind the smiles was a more contentious issue that didn’t get any airtime: The democratic socialist mayor’s main transit-related campaign promise to make the city’s public buses free for all.

Hochul, a moderate Democrat, opposes the mayor’s proposal, instead favoring a more targeted approach of subsidizing fare for low-income residents. Mamdani’s Monday omission was especially noticeable as he on the 2025 mayoral campaign trail mentioned his pledge to eliminate bus fares at nearly all public appearances, especially ones related to transit.

The free bus plan, which Mamdani’s team estimates would cost about $800 million annually, is contingent on state action and funding. Against that backdrop, it is expected to be one of the biggest policy priorities Mamdani has in Albany during this spring’s state legislative session.

Asked why he didn’t bring up his bus plan during the appearance with Hochul, Mamdani spokeswoman Dora Pekec said, “Just yesterday, Mayor Mamdani touted his fast and free bus proposal while riding the only free bus in the city, the Q70, to hear directly from New Yorkers the impact fare-free rides can have on their lives.”

Hochul didn’t answer when asked by the Daily News after Monday’s congestion pricing event if she has changed her mind about Mamdani’s free bus plan. The MTA is under state, rather than city, control.

A city government veteran, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested there was good reason for Mamdani to steer clear of his bus plan Monday.

“With the State of the State address one week away, the smart play is to avoid getting out in front of his skis on issues where Gov. Hochul holds the keys,” the person said, referencing Hochul’s annual speech set for next week.

Mamdani’s bus plan became such a staple of his campaign that crowds at his rallies were accustomed to chanting “free” when he asked what his administration would make the buses. To pay for the free buses, Mamdani has proposed increasing taxes on millionaires and corporations, another plan Hochul has been lukewarm about.

While he didn’t reference free buses Monday, Mamdani did mention congestion pricing has been a great revenue generator for the MTA.

“We know that that increase could grow even further in the years to come as more and more money can be then spent on the infrastructure that would make that commute smoother, make it faster, make it more reliable,” he said.