Every four years, the City University of New York’s University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) releases an independent, non-partisan report analyzing the transportation policy positions of New York City’s mayoral candidates. The report is part of a long-standing effort to help voters, regulators, and industry stakeholders understand where candidates stand on key mobility issues, from public transit and street safety to taxi, for-hire vehicle, and freight regulation.
The 2025 edition continues a tradition that began with similar reports published for the 2013 and 2021 elections. Each report has been independently peer reviewed and widely used by policymakers, transportation professionals, and members of the ground transportation industry. The summaries, along with a one-page “voter palm card,” have become a valued resource for those seeking a clear, objective view of how City Hall candidates approach transportation.
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2025 Mayoral Election Report
Within weeks, New York City will have elected our next Mayor. Whoever New Yorkers select, transportation will be one of the most visible and consequential areas of their administration. The next mayor’s decisions regarding the street network, taxi industry regulations and more will shape how residents, workers, and visitors move through the city.
While issues such as congestion pricing, bus fares, and subway safety have attracted significant public attention, many other topics central to mobility, including curb management, accessibility, and taxi industry regulation, have received less focus on the campaign trail. This analysis summarizes the records and stated positions of the three leading mayoral candidates – Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani, and Curtis Sliwa – as well as the recent actions of the Adams administration that set the current policy landscape.
Accessibility
Accessibility has been a long-term focus for city and state transportation agencies. During the de Blasio administration, the City committed more than $1.5 billion to install or maintain sidewalk curb ramps and hundreds of millions toward accessible pedestrian signals. Under Mayor Eric Adams, the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) adopted new rules to encourage deployment of wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs).
As governor, Andrew Cuomo approved the MTA’s 2020–2024 capital plan, allocating $5.2 billion for accessibility improvements to make up to 70 subway stations fully accessible. The plan also called for wider turnstiles and gates to improve station access. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani has not issued a detailed accessibility platform, though his legislative work has focused on fare-free and equitable transit service. Curtis Sliwa has not outlined an accessibility policy in his 2025 campaign.
Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous vehicle (AV) technology has advanced slowly but steadily in New York. A 2017 state pilot programauthorized by then-Governor Cuomo allowed limited testing under strict conditions, including a requirement that a human operator keep one hand on the wheel. The program provided a legal framework for early demonstrations by automakers such as Audi.
In recent years, testing has expanded modestly. In 2021, Waymo conducted weather testing in New York City. Under Mayor Adams, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a new AV testing permit in 2025, allowing operations in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn with safety drivers present.
Cuomo’s record on AVs reflects a pragmatic approach, supporting innovation while maintaining strong safety rules. He has expressed concern about the economic impacts of AV’s during his campaign, but has not outlined what his specific policy would be as Mayor. Neither Mamdani nor Sliwa has issued campaign statements specific to autonomous vehicles, nor do their records provide any indication of how they would govern as Mayor.
Bicycles and Micromobility
Micromobility has become a growing component of the city’s transportation network. The Bloomberg administration launched Citi Bike in 2013, and the de Blasio administration expanded the city’s protected bike-lane network and introduced the first e-scooter pilot in the Bronx. The Adams administration continued these efforts, expanding micromobility pilots, strengthening e-bike battery safety standards, and launching a Greenway Master Plan.
As governor, Cuomo supported legalizing e-bikes and scooters statewide in 2020, reversing his earlier veto of similar legislation. His current platform references safety concerns related to e-bikes and e-scooters, proposing registration requirements and greater accountability for delivery platforms. Mamdani, meanwhile, has sponsored legislation (A.803) to create an automated enforcement program for vehicles which block bike-lanes and advocates expanding city e-bike programs, delivery worker safety initiatives, and dedicated micromobility infrastructure. Sliwa’s prior campaign statements emphasized enforcement against unsafe cycling and questioned the allocation of street space to bike lanes, but they have not evolved into formal 2025 policy proposals.
Buses
New York’s bus system, the largest in North America, carries over a million riders daily but has long faced reliability and speed challenges. Under Governor Cuomo and MTA Transit President Andy Byford, the 2018 Fast Forward plan began borough-by-borough network redesigns and modernization efforts. The Adams administration has since expanded bus-priority corridors and Select Bus Service (SBS) routes.
Cuomo supported the Fast Forward plan, SBS expansion, and pandemic-era fare suspensions. His current campaign callsfor free bus fares for low-income households and pilots for additional free bus routes. Mamdani has made free bus fares for all riders and bus service improvements a centerpiece of his campaign. As an Assemblyman, Mamdani co-authored the Fix the MTA platform and helping to fund the 2023-24 fare-free bus pilot, which increased ridership on the selected routes. Sliwa opposes free bus fares, would have the MTA expand express bus service to the outer-boroughs and questions the effectiveness of existing bus lanes.
Congestion and Traffic Management
After years of study and debate, congestion pricing took effect in January 2025 under Governor Kathy Hochul, requiring vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street to pay a toll. The program was originally enacted under Governor Cuomo as part of the 2019 state budget and implemented through coordination between the MTA, the state, and the Adams administration.
As Governor, Cuomo convened the Fix NYC task force that developed the framework for congestion pricing, citing its dual purpose of funding MTA improvements and reducing gridlock. He has since advocated to delay implementation of the program, citing concerns about the City’s post-pandemic economic recovery, though he now says he supports the program. Mamdani is a strong supporter, describing congestion pricing as both a climate measure and a fiscal tool to improve transit. Sliwa continues to oppose the tolls, describing them as a burden on working- and middle-class drivers, and has proposed rebates for New York City residents who pay the toll.
Ferries
Ferry service expanded significantly under Mayor de Blasio with the launch of NYC Ferry in 2017, connecting waterfront communities across boroughs. While the system grew to over seven million annual riders, it also drew scrutiny over subsidy levels. The Adams administration restructured fares in 2022 to improve fiscal balance, raising the standard fare to $4 while maintaining discounted rates for eligible riders.
No current candidate has announced new ferry policy proposals.
Freight and Deliveries
More than 90% of goods entering the city arrive by truck, and the growth of e-commerce has increased pressure on curbs and streets. The de Blasio administration’s Smart Truck Management Plan and the Adams administration’s Curb Management Action Plan both sought to address these challenges through freight efficiency programs, delivery microhubs, and off-hour deliveries.
The Adams administration also piloted cargo-bike deliveries and has explored waterborne freight transport to reduce congestion and emissions. None of the 2025 mayoral candidates has released new freight or commercial delivery policy proposals.
Parking and Curb Management
Parking and curb management remain politically sensitive issues that intersect with housing, climate, and economic goals. The de Blasio administration eliminated parking minimums for certain developments near transit, while the Adams administration proposed removing most remaining minimums under the “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” initiative. DOT has also piloted expanded loading zones and curb reallocation for deliveries, EV charging, and micromobility parking.
Cuomo has not released proposals on parking policy. Mamdani supports eliminating parking minimums citywide and reallocating curb space toward pedestrian and transit uses, while also calling for parking and traffic enforcement responsibilities to be shifted from the NYPD to DOT. Sliwa’s platform includes a focus on enforcement against abandoned and illegally parked vehicles and expanded towing operations for blocking hydrants, crosswalks, and bus stops.
Public Realm and Outdoor Dining
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated changes in how streets and sidewalks are used, leading to the Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs. Under Mayor Adams, these programs were made permanent through the Dining Out NYCframework, which formalized design standards and seasonal roadway use rules.
As Governor, Cuomo signed legislation in 2021 allowing municipalities to extend pandemic-era outdoor dining programs. His current campaign proposes streamlining the city’s permitting process and improving interagency coordination. Mamdani supports permanent expansion of open-street and dining programs, along with school-street initiatives and neighborhood-level pedestrianization. As a candidate for Mayor in 2021, Sliwa expressed concerns about outdoor-dining structures occupying parking spaces and has said the program should be scaled back and more strictly maintained.
Taxi and For-Hire Vehicle Industry
The taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) industry continues to face economic and regulatory pressures following the rise of app-based platforms and fluctuations in medallion values. Under Mayor Adams, the TLC expanded debt-relief programs for medallion owners, supported commuter van stabilization initiatives, and advanced its electrification mandate for high-volume FHV bases, requiring 100% of trips to be completed by zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible vehicles by 2030.
As Governor, Cuomo signed the 2017 statewide regulatory framework for transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft, and enacted the 2019 congestion surcharge on taxi and FHV trips below 96th Street. During his campaign, Cuomo has emphasized the need for collaboration and regulatory reform in the taxi and for-hire vehicle industry, calling for practical EV transition planning, improved driver amenities like restroom access, and the creation of an industry advisory committee to modernize outdated TLC regulations. Mamdani supported the 2021 taxi driver debt-relief campaign and legislation to cap medallion loan payments. However, neither Mamdani nor Sliwa has released new policies specific to the taxi or FHV sector during this campaign.
Subway System
The New York City subway is central to the city’s mobility network, but is administered by Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), an organization that is led by the Governor. The City’s role is mostly limited to addressing crime and disorder on the train cars and in the stations. The Adams administration has continued joint NYPD and MTA operationsand expanded mental-health outreach programs in stations.
Under Governor Cuomo, the state declared a subway “state of emergency” in 2017, funding repairs through the Subway Action Plan and signal upgrades. As a Mayoral candidate, Cuomo has made subway safety a central focus in his campaign, emphasizing enforcement, improvements to lighting and turnstile infrastructure, and outreach to restore rider confidence. As Mayor, Cuomo would also seek to reallocate responsibility for capital projects from the MTA to a new City-managed team that reports directly to him. The program would focus on upgraded train cars, tracks, signals and other infrastructure; delivering accessibility projects in subway stations; cleaning trains and stations; preparing for climate change and more.
Mamdani has advocated for addressing homelessness on the subway by deploying mental health professionals rather than the police. His campaign calls for a new Department of Community Safety to replace traditional enforcement with outreach and mental-health response teams. Sliwa’s platform emphasizes increased NYPD presence, targeted enforcement, and improved station lighting, cameras, and layout design. Sliwa has also questioned whether the MTA should pursue the Second Avenue Subway project by expanding the Q train into Harlem.
Vision Zero and Street Safety
Vision Zero, adopted in 2014 by Mayor De Blasio, continues to guide New York City’s approach to traffic safety. Under the Adams administration, the City expanded 24/7 speed-camera operation and intersection daylighting following state authorization. The program is working. If trends hold, 2025 may be the year with the fewest fatal traffic crashes in the City’s history.
As Governor, Cuomo supported multiple legislative measures that underpin New York City’s Vision Zero initiative, including the 2019 expansion of school-zone speed cameras and the adoption of the citywide 25 MPH speed limit. As an Assembly Member, Mamdani has sponsored legislation to automate enforcement of bike-lane blockages. As a Mayoral candidate Mamdani has proposed shifting parking enforcement from the NYPD to DOT, and increasing the use of automated enforcement safety cameras and rolling out safety redesigns of streets across the City. Sliwa supports City Council efforts to install physical traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps and raised crosswalks near speed cameras.
Conclusion
The next mayor will inherit a complex and evolving transportation landscape. From implementing congestion pricing to managing emerging technologies, micromobility, and vehicle electrification, City Hall’s leadership directly influences how safely and efficiently people and goods move through New York. While much public discussion has focused on subways and crime, the broader system of streets, curbs, and vehicles remains at the center of the city’s economic and environmental future. For the taxi and for-hire vehicle industry, policies on congestion pricing, EV mandates, and curb management will be particularly consequential. Whichever candidate takes office in 2026 will face the task of balancing safety, innovation, and accessibility – and ensuring that every part of the city’s transportation network supports both mobility and opportunity for all New Yorkers.
