NYC Transit Policy Simulator
Evaluating the trade-offs of Free Buses vs. Faster Buses. Explore how dedicated busways, automated camera enforcement, and fare subsidies shape ridership, bunching, and municipal budgets.
Live NYC Corridor Simulation (14th St / 1st Ave Transitway)
Bunching Index: Low
In-Service Bus
Transit Signal Priority (Green Light)
Traffic / Passenger Dwell Friction
Ridership Response vs Annual Subsidy Cost Interactive D3 Curve
Source Grounding: Based on The Economist reporting (Sept 2026) regarding Zohran Mamdani's transit policy evolution from universal zero-fare pilot lines toward prioritizing bus speeds, dedicated corridors, and headway reliability. Data modeled on MTA NYCT bus fleet (~5,800 active buses, ~2.1M baseline riders).
Policy Presets
75%
Dedicated lanes, camera enforcement, transit signal priority (TSP), & all-door boarding.
25%
Percentage of $2.90 base fare absorbed by municipal tax subsidy (100% = completely free buses).
Projected System Performance
Average Bus Speed
11.4 mph
+42.5% vs baseline (8.0 mph)
Daily Bus Ridership
2,450,000
+350,000 net new daily riders
Annual Municipal Cost
$420.5M / yr
Net city fiscal commitment
Cost per Gained Rider
$3.29
High Capital Efficiency
Strategic Verdict
Speed-Prioritized Corridor Model
Prioritizing travel velocity yields compounding returns: reducing loop times allows higher frequency with existing buses, dramatically cutting wait times and preventing bus bunching while remaining fiscally sustainable.