With just six days to go before the mayoral election, the head of the MTA dumped cold water on Democratic nominee and front-runner Zohran Mamdani\u2019s signature campaign promise to eliminate fares on all of New York City\u2019s buses.<\/p>\n
Mamdani has estimated it would cost the city upwards of $630 million<\/a> a year to replace the money the MTA would lose by nixing bus fares. But Lieber on Wednesday said the price tag would be far higher, especially if the gratis rides increase demand for buses.<\/p>\n \u201cIf a lot more people are riding the bus, are we going to need more buses? Are we going to need more bus drivers? Will we need extra depots?\u201d MTA Chair Lieber said on NY1 Wednesday morning. \u201cI want to make sure that people of limited income get priority in this discussion, that we’re not just giving a ton of money to people who are riding the M104 on the Upper West Side where I grew up.\u201d<\/p>\n Following an MTA board meeting Wednesday, Lieber told reporters the actual price to replace bus fares would increase to $1 billion in the coming years, assuming the agency cracks down on fare evasion. The agency\u2019s latest data shows 50% of Select Bus Service riders and 44% of local bus riders didn\u2019t pay the fare during the third quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n Mamdani\u2019s campaign did not respond to requests for comment on Lieber\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n Lieber’s comments came as the mayoral race between Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is tightening<\/a>. Lieber has political allegiances to both candidates.<\/p>\n The MTA chair reports to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who endorsed Mamdani in the general election. But Cuomo first hired Lieber to the MTA during his time as governor.<\/p>\n Lieber dismissed the notion he was putting his thumb on the political scales, saying \u201c\u200awe’re not involved in the election campaign and we don’t take a position.\u201d<\/p>\n While Lieber has for months supported Mamdani\u2019s enthusiasm to boost mass transit funding, he\u2019s repeatedly dismissed the idea of making buses free.<\/p>\n