MTA CEO Janno Lieber's 2026 Wish List: Cheaper Fares, Bus Lanes, and Fare Evasion Crackdown

MTA's Vision for 2026

• 💡 MTA CEO Janno Lieber is focusing on affordability efforts for people of limited means, potentially making both subway and bus fares cheaper.
• 🎯 He is also proposing a new strategy to crack down on bus fare evasion, inspired by European models.

Fare Evasion Enforcement

• 👮 Lieber suggests employing special enforcement teams composed of fare agents, not police officers.
• 📱 These agents would be empowered to ask passengers to show proof of payment via phone or Omni card.

Bus Lane Expansion

• 🛣️ A key request for the incoming mayor is to collaborate on creating more bus lanes.
• 🚀 The goal is to improve the speed of buses, which are currently among the slowest in America.

Public and Political Reactions

• 💬 The mayor-elect's spokesperson expressed enthusiasm for working with MTA leadership on affordability and speed initiatives.
• 🤔 New Yorkers have mixed reactions, with some believing that