NEW YORK (PIX11) — Riders on the B60 got a surprise Sunday when they went to board — they didn’t have to pay a fare.
The line is one of five in New York City that are now free as part of a new MTA pilot program. It’s expected to serve 43,000 commuters and will provide free bus fare on one route per borough for the next six to 12 months.
Free NYC Bus Routes
- Queens: Q4 LCL/LTD
- Brooklyn: B60
- Manhattan: M116
- Staten Island: S46/96
- The Bronx: BX18A/B
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the program is about improving transit equity to better serve all New Yorkers.
The MTA looked at several routes before choosing the five it went with. Some lawmakers who support the program say it will speed up travel times and boost access to essential services while making buses safer by taking away arguments over payment.
“At a time when 20% of low-income New Yorkers have been foregoing job opportunities and medical appointments because of the cost of the fare, the B60 could be the thing that makes that possible,” said New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani.
The legislators who pushed for the program want it to become permanent and expand it to other routes.
