New Poll Shows 72% of Voters Support Free MTA Buses

A strong majority of New York City voters, 72 percent, believe MTA bus services should be free for residents, according to a new poll from Data for Progress. Only 20 percent of respondents opposed the idea.

The concept of fully subsidizing city buses finds broad appeal across the political spectrum. The poll revealed that 80 percent of Democrats support fare-free buses, alongside a notable 58 percent of Republicans.

The poll asked voters: "Do you support or oppose New York City fully subsidizing public transportation so that residents can use MTA bus services for free?"

Support for free buses brings together unlikely political figures. Despite their many differences, former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani have both expressed support for the idea.

Mamdani has long included free buses in his platform. Responding to the poll, his campaign released a statement highlighting his past efforts: "Zohran Mamdani... successfully championed New York City’s first fare-free bus pilot, which saw a 38% increase in weekday ridership and 40% decrease in assaults on bus operators." The statement added that Mamdani supports "fast and free buses for all New Yorkers."

Former Governor Cuomo also recently endorsed expanding free bus routes. Speaking at the National Action Network, he told the audience, “we need more free bus routes in New York,” encouraging their applause by adding, “you should applaud that!”

While the MTA has experimented with fare-free bus pilot programs on specific routes, these initiatives have not yet expanded across the entire system.

This poll marks another instance where a policy championed by Mamdani, sometimes labeled progressive or socialist, shows significant crossover appeal. Previous polling has also indicated majority support, including from Republicans, for other proposals he backs, such as government-run grocery stores.