Brad Lander Unveils Vision for Future of NYC Streets and Subways, Alongside Transit Advocates

Lander’s plan will make a “Big Apple Transit” agency for a unified transit system; maps out six minute subway service, ending street homelessness for people with serious mental illness, and modernizing our buses

Watch the recorded press conference here and view photos here

NEW YORK, NY — Today, Brad Lander, alongside transportation advocates at Astor Place, mapped out the future of New York City’s streets and subways with the most comprehensive transportation platform in the mayoral race. Lander’s 29-page plan promises six-minute subway service, ending street homelessness for people with serious mental illness, and making micromobility safer for all. Lander’s plan aims to create a unified transit management system, overseen under a “Big Apple Transit” agency, modeled on London’s TfL system. Read Green Light for New York City here.

“New Yorkers are rightfully fed up with our transportation system — we’re exhausted from waiting 15 minutes for a train during rush hour, of being seconds away from a crash with an unregulated moped, of the anxiety that arises with a person with serious mental illness at every subway stop,” said Brad Lander. “I want a city where the subway is your first choice, not your last resort. Where you can bike to work, walk your kid to school, and get to the beach without sitting in traffic. I’m proud to unveil the boldest, most transformative transportation agenda in the race to make our streets safer, our transit stronger, and our neighborhoods more livable for every New Yorker.”

1. Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Transit

• 6-Minute Subway Service: Brad will champion a six-minute service standard for subways across the city, even outside the 9 to 5 rush.

• Massive Bus System Revamp: New citywide bus rapid transit (BRT) routes, center-running bus lanes, and revived car-free busways like Fordham Road.

• Explore Unified Transit Management: Explore creating a Big Apple Transit (BAT) agency for streamlined subway, bus, and street management, modeled on Transport for London’s (TfL) governance structure.

• Expand Fair Fares: Extend half-price transit to CUNY students and more low-income New Yorkers; propose a $2.90 in-city commuter rail fare with free transfers.

• End Subway Homelessness: Implement housing-first strategies to end street and subway homelessness for people with serious mental illness.

2. Make Vision Zero a Reality

• End Traffic Deaths: Relaunch Vision Zero with bold street redesigns, crash investigations moved from NYPD to DOT, and real-time crash data releases.

• Stronger Enforcement: Reform NYPD traffic enforcement culture; crack down on reckless drivers, ghost plates, and illegal parking inside the NYPD and FDNY.

• Expand Protected Bike Lanes and Greenways: Dramatic expansion of high-quality protected bike lanes and missing greenway links across the city.

• Revive Abandoned Safety Projects: Restart stalled projects like the McGuinness Boulevard redesign and 3rd Ave Brooklyn bike lane, and open the Queensboro Bridge bike-pedestrian path.

3. Reclaim Streets for People

• Expand Open Streets and Pedestrian Plazas: Set a goal to ensure every neighborhood has at least one Open Street, improve the City’s community engagement processes, and build permanent infrastructure (e.g., retractable bollards).

• Transform Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn: Capitalize on congestion pricing to pedestrianize Fifth Avenue, the Financial District, and parts of downtown Brooklyn.

• Expand Holiday Streets and Bring Summer Streets to All Boroughs and Multiple Weekends.

• Permanent Outdoor Dining: Fix the city's Dining Out NYC program to be year-round and more accessible to small businesses.

4. Smart, Safe Deliveries

• Crack Down on Illegal Mopeds and E-Bikes: Create a licensing program for delivery apps; enforce traffic rules consistently; eliminate unsafe vehicles; and build high-quality infrastructure including wider bike lanes and deliverista hubs.

• Expand Battery Swap Programs and Safe Charging Infrastructure: Incentivize safer, legal micromobility use.

• Regulate Last-Mile Warehouses: Introduce zoning and permitting rules to curb environmental and street impacts from last-mile fulfillment centers.

• Safer Freight Solutions: Fix the BQE, transform the Cross Bronx Expressway, expand cargo bike deliveries and neighborhood loading zones, and invest in the “Blue Highways” barge freight and clean truck transition programs.

5. Better-Run Curbs

• Smart Curbs Pilot Expansion: Use real-time sensors and AI for smarter curb management—parking, deliveries, EV charging, and trash containerization.

• Pilot Residential Parking Permits: Prioritize residents, safer vehicles, and cleaner transportation while funding neighborhood street improvements.

• Reform Alternate Side Parking: Launch the SweepNYC app to track street sweepers in real-time; introduce “courtesy towing” for scofflaws.

• Expand Citizen Reporting: Allow New Yorkers to report illegal parking and placard abuse—and receive a cut of the fines.

Brad released this plan alongside a long list of safe streets and transit champions backing Brad’s Mayoral bid: 

• Blythe Austin

• Bronwyn Breitner

• Jackson Chabot

• Marco Conner

• Elena Conte

• Kate Fillin-Yeh

• Michael Freedman Schnapp

• Doug Gordon

• Laura Hansen

• Rich Kassel

• Kevin LaCherra

• Sara Lind

• Aaron Naparstek

• Michael O'Loughlin

• Jon Orcutt

• Kathy Park-Price

• Neysa Pranger

• John Raskin

• Ron Shiffman

• Katie Walsh

• Adam White

• Christine Berthet

“Brad has been doing the work to make it safe, fast, and convenient for New Yorkers to get around since day 1 – from fighting for better bus service for the outer boroughs, to making sure safe common-sense bicycle infrastructure is in place, to being a champion for congestion-busting measures,” said Michael Freedman-Schnapp, co-founder of the Riders Alliance. “As Mayor, he has the leadership and experience to bring New Yorkers the safe, fast, and convenient transportation system they deserve.”

“For years, Brad Lander has worked shoulder to shoulder in New York City with communities like ours, here in Sunset Park, advocating for safe streets, better air quality, and regulation for the e-delivery/last mile trucking facilities popping up in our districts like ours,” said Katie Walsh, Brooklyn Democratic Party - Assembly District 51 County Committee member. “Brad is morally clear, pragmatic and effective – exactly the values and qualities we need in our future Mayor. He will stand up for New Yorkers, stand up to Trump and fight like hell for all of us.” 

“There has been no better elected official on transportation policy over the last two decades than Brad Lander," said Aaron Naparstek, the founding editor of Streetsblog, co-creator of The War on Cars podcast, and a longtime advocate for livable streets. “The platform that Brad is releasing today is the most comprehensive and thoughtful transportation policy paper that a New York City mayoral candidate has ever produced. If you care about safer streets, more affordable transit, and a better-run transportation system, there is really only one choice in this race: Brad Lander.” 

“Not everyone remembers that Brad had been a Council Member for just a few months before the Prospect Park West bike lane fight hit the fan. Brooklyn’s elite was against it, but Brad looked at the facts and was a big part of winning the fight. Today, it’s one of the city’s most heavily used bikeways. It’s been onward from there, as Brad has championed progress from modern subway signals and station accessibility to driver accountability and congestion pricing. The ambition and scope of Brad’s transportation policy show that as Mayor, he will restore New York as an innovator in street safety, a world class public realm and sustainable transportation,” said Jon Orcutt, City DOT policy director in 2007-2014 and 35-year veteran of NYC transportation policy debates. 

“I am proud to support Brad for Mayor of New York City. Transportation and public space is about all of us -- how we get to work, to school and daycare; it is a vital piece of addressing our housing crisis and building a green, safe and inclusive city. We live in a perilous time. It is a time that requires bold vision for better streets, transit, walking, biking and driving, courage to act on that vision, and broad solidarity. I know Brad is both a bold visionary and pragmatist, I have seen his courage in action, and I have witnessed his commitment to stand and fight with all New Yorkers. I believe in Brad's vision and in him to achieve that vision for New York City as Mayor”, said Marco Conner DiAquoi – transportation equity advocate and nonprofit leader.

“Walkability, transit, and micromobility are the core values that make New York City exceptional and allow for the density and urban prosperity that has made our city a global powerhouse,” said Miser of Micromobility NYC. “Now, thanks to congestion pricing and a reawakening of urban values and culture, the way for NYC is clear — but it will require strong executive vision and execution. Design, funding, scale. Brad's plan lays out a comprehensive vision for how we get there.”

“Brad Lander has been a visionary leader on transportation issues since his first day on the City Council,” said Rich Kassel, creator of the "Dump Dirty Diesels” campaign and former board chair of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “Brad’s comprehensive plan to make transportation safe, reliable, and affordable will bring a breath of fresh air to all NYC straphangers, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians in all five boroughs.”

Read Green Light for New York City here.