Report finds city bus service among slowest in the country

A report released by the New York City Independent Budget Office found city bus service is some of the slowest in the country.

Riders say it’s not news to them. Caitlyn Ortutay lives in Hudson Yards and takes the M42. She says taking the bus during peak hours doubles her commute time.

“I’m going crosstown. The map will say like 20-25 minutes but it could take up to 40-45,” Ortutay said. “In the middle of the day, you could be flying through, but in the evening it could be standstill traffic.”

The IBO says, despite numerous initiatives to increase bus speeds, service has not improved over the last five years. The office cites a number of factors, including congestion, an insufficient bus lane network and inconsistent enforcement of bus lane rules.

The report found The Department of Transportation’s plan to build 150 miles of protected bus lanes by 2026 is behind schedule.

“New Yorkers deserve faster bus commutes and bus lanes that are free of double-parked vehicles, which is why DOT has focused on building physically protected bus lanes that keep cars out and using cameras to enforce against drivers who try to turn bus lanes into personal parking lots. As the report acknowledges, this issue predates the current administration, but we are nevertheless committed to improving bus service for millions of New Yorkers,” a DOT spokesperson said in response to the report.

Jeanae Stamper lives in New Jersey and has been commuting from Midtown to Hackensack for a month. She says each day is a headache.

“It’s supposed to be 10 minutes. It’s usually about 20-25,” Stamper said. “It was supposed to be here a few minutes ago. I don’t know when it’s gonna show up and I always miss my bus back to New Jersey because it’s always late.”

The report highlights service from 2019 to 2024, before congestion pricing was implemented. Ortutay says she started to see a slight difference.

“I do feel like it’s better. Yes, during rush hour,” Ortutay said.

“We appreciate the IBO’s report and are reviewing its findings. The MTA remains committed to providing efficient and reliable service across the city by redesigning borough-wide bus networks, expanding Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE), and partnering with NYCDOT to create more dedicated bus lanes for faster service,” a spokesperson for the MTA said.

The MTA also says ACE has resulted in 5% faster commutes, as well as a 20% decrease in crashes.