New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged that his campaign pledge to make buses free citywide will not be implemented this year, marking a significant shift from one of the central promises of his run for office.

Instead, the mayor said he is now focusing on reviving a scaled-down version of a fare-free bus pilot program, confirming that New Yorkers will not see the full rollout of no-cost bus service in the immediate future.

Despite the change in timeline, Mamdani maintained that he remains committed to the broader goal. “We’re encouraged by the conversations we’re having with the governor and legislative leaders to take action on that in 2026 as a first step,” he said.

He added, “Both legislative houses included language within their one-house budget proposals in support of bringing back a free bus pilot program. That is something that we are encouraged by, and it continues to be part of budget negotiations.”

Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers are currently in the midst of budget talks, where the idea of reinstating a limited free bus program is under discussion, according to state Sen. Michael Gianaris.

Gianaris and Mamdani, then a Queens assemblyman, previously worked together in 2023 to launch a pilot program offering free bus service in parts of Queens as part of that year’s state budget.

The program’s success led Mamdani to advocate for expanding the concept across all five boroughs the following year.

However, efforts to broaden the initiative were halted after a dispute with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who removed the proposal from the budget following disagreements over an unrelated housing issue, according to sources.

Mamdani later ran for mayor in 2025, highlighting the Queens pilot as a model and pushing for a citywide expansion of fare-free buses under the MTA.

Gianaris said the current proposal under consideration would provide free service on three bus routes in each borough at an estimated cost of $45 million.

The idea has received mixed reactions in Albany, with some skepticism from state leaders, including Hochul, who had expressed reservations about the plan even before Mamdani took office.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Janno Lieber has also criticized the proposal, suggesting it is underdeveloped and could end up costing significantly more than projected.

It remains uncertain whether even a limited version of the program will be included in the state’s $263 billion budget, which is already past its deadline.

Sources indicated that a narrower pilot similar to the earlier Queens program could still be included in the final agreement, despite Hochul’s reluctance to commit additional funding after allocating $1.5 billion to support New York City over the next two years.

Speaking at a separate news conference in Manhattan, Hochul said that housing initiatives and proposed auto insurance reforms are taking priority in the budget discussions over transit changes.

“We’re working on those right now,” she said, adding, “Certainly we have had conversations on some accommodation on the cost of buses.”

MTA officials declined to comment directly, referring inquiries to the governor’s office, which did not respond.

Mamdani’s revised stance on free buses is the latest in a series of policy adjustments during his early months in office.

Last month, he appointed a Deputy Mayor of Community Safety, opting to establish a smaller agency rather than moving forward with his earlier proposal to overhaul how the city handles mental health emergency calls through a new department.

A City Hall spokesperson said the administration remains committed to the long-term goal. “Mayor Mamdani is committed to delivering fast and free buses by the time he leaves office, full stop,” the representative said. “His First Deputy Mayor is in active discussions with the Governor’s office regarding fare free buses. In the meantime, the Mamdani administration will continue to work with our partners at the state and local level to make commutes faster and our transit system more affordable for all New Yorkers.”