STREET-FIGHT: Mamdani Presses Mayor Adams — 14th St. Worked, So Why Stall on 34th?
New York State Assembly member and mayoral candidate Zohran Kwame Mamdani has reignited debate over the city’s transit priorities, criticizing Mayor Eric Adams for failing to implement the long-planned 34th Street Busway.
In a new video, Mamdani contrasted the mayor's inaction with the proven success of the 14th Street Busway, calling for urgent investment in public transit infrastructure.
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| Image Source: ZohranMamdani on X |
The result: bus speeds increased by 24%, ridership rose by 30%, and traffic crashes dropped significantly. Urban planners and transit advocates have hailed it as a model of sustainable and equitable transport design.
Mamdani argues that the city’s failure to replicate this success on 34th Street is a missed opportunity—and a political decision.
“The evidence is clear,” Mamdani said in the video, pointing to the improvements in commute times and safety. “So why is Mayor Adams blocking progress?”
The 34th Street Busway was proposed shortly after the 14th Street pilot showed results but has since stalled amid legal challenges and lukewarm political support.
Critics allege the Adams administration has prioritized development interests and car-centric planning over accessible and climate-friendly infrastructure.
The 14th Street Busway has been a smashing success: faster commutes, fewer crashes, calmer streets.
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) July 11, 2025
So why is Eric Adams blocking a similar plan for 34th Street? pic.twitter.com/X8hbVj00hy
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist backed by national progressives like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has made transit equity a key pillar of his campaign.
His vision includes expanding bus priority lanes, investing in pedestrian-friendly design, and redirecting city planning toward mass transit and working-class neighborhoods.
His comments come at a time when New York City faces mounting pressure to address traffic congestion, carbon emissions, and inequitable transit access.
Globally, cities from Bogotá to Paris have embraced bus rapid transit and car-restricted zones as tools to meet climate and mobility goals. Mamdani argues New York should lead—not lag—in that shift.
Mayor Adams’ office has yet to respond to Mamdani’s critique. But the issue is expected to feature prominently in the 2025 mayoral race, with transit, housing, and public safety emerging as top concerns for voters.
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