The MTA is moving forward with plans to purchase 650 new buses, marking its largest single bus fleet upgrade since 2013. The new vehicles are expected to improve service reliability for more than 1 million daily riders while replacing aging buses already in service.
The MTA is releasing a request for proposals to bus manufacturers as part of its 2025-29 Capital Plan. Funding secured under the plan is supported by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The purchase also advances commitments outlined in Next Stop: Faster Buses, Better Service, an initiative announced this summer with Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to improve bus speeds and service.
“We promised New Yorkers a historic partnership with City Hall to move buses faster and more reliably, now we are delivering by moving full speed ahead with the single largest purchase of new MTA buses in over a decade,” said Gov. Hochul. “Modern, reliable buses can spend more time on the road and less time in the shop than the old vehicles they will replace, a win for riders who depend on frequent, reliable service to get around.”
The new buses will use compressed natural gas, or CNG, and replace older CNG vehicles. The MTA said the buses are expected to improve reliability, reduce emissions and improve air quality.
The agency also said the natural gas used to fuel its CNG buses is offset with renewable natural gas made from methane captured from sources including landfills and farms.
The investment is part of a broader effort to modernize the MTA’s fleet while supporting cleaner transportation in communities affected by poor air quality. Under the current capital plan, 30 percent of standard bus purchases are expected to be CNG vehicles.
The plan also includes 500 zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure at bus depots, with a focus on disproportionately affected communities.
Since July, 41 new buses have entered service, replacing vehicles with an average age of 18 years. The oldest was 21 years old.
The procurement is part of the MTA’s Rolling Stock Program, which gives manufacturers greater flexibility to propose new ideas while streamlining the contracting process.
Proposals for the 650-bus order are due Oct. 19, 2026.
