What are NYC buses called?

The New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA, publicly known as MTA New York City Transit as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority) operates roughly 4,500 buses within the 5 boroughs of New York City daily branded as both MTA New York City Bus, and MTA Bus.



In New York City, the bus system is officially operated and branded by the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority). Specifically, the service is divided into MTA New York City Bus (which serves the five boroughs) and MTA Bus Company (which primarily operates former private bus routes in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx). Locally, you will hear them referred to by their service types: Local Buses (labeled with a letter and number like M15 or B46), Select Bus Service (SBS) (the city's version of bus rapid transit with off-board fare payment), and Express Buses (typically coach-style buses that travel between outer boroughs and Manhattan for a higher fare). By 2026, almost all buses are outfitted with the OMNY contactless payment system, and the fleet is transitioning toward Electric Buses as part of the city’s climate goals. While tourists might just call them "the bus," understanding the distinction between Local and Express is vital for avoiding the $7.00 fare of the latter.

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The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. It is owned by the government of New York City and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, an affiliate agency of the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

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MTA is a corporate entity separate and apart from the State of New York (the State), without any power of taxation frequently called a public authority. MTA has the responsibility for developing and implementing a unified mass transportation policy for The City of New York (the City) and Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, ...

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We operate local, express, and Select Bus Service routes in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. Our fleet includes more than 1,300 buses, making it the 11th largest in the United States and Canada.

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New York City Transit President Andy Byford said the buses at that time were not equipped to handle the roads. My understanding was, where New York previously trialed double-deck, there were problems with the air conditioning, and the technology just really wasn't appropriate to handle New York streets, Byford said.

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Maneuver Manhattan's train system like a local LOCAL TIP: New Yorkers typically call the subway “trains” (not underground or metro) or by their alpha name (the C or the Q).

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Taxicabs are the only vehicles that have the right to pick up street-hailing and prearranged passengers anywhere in New York City.

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O has never been used due to its visual similarity to the number 0. P was planned for the service operating on the final leg of the BMT Culver Line before it was downgraded to a shuttle.

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The New York City subway is a core part of the infrastructure and transportation in the city. The subway is owned by the city of New York and leased to the New York Transit Authority. It is one of the oldest subway systems and one of the largest in the world, with about 472 stations in operation.

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The shortest is the 1.3-mile B42 route that connects Canarsie, Brooklyn, to a subway station and bus transfer hub. The longest is the S78's 19.5-mile trip across Staten Island with 117 stops. The average route is six miles. The transportation authority spends $565,000 annually to operate the B39.

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Train operators are responsible for the safe, timely, and proper operation of New York City Transit's subway cars and trains. They prepare trains for road service, move passengers over assigned routes, make announcements on trains, and operate trains between yards and terminals.

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