Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced that Elizabeth Adams will serve as Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses, a key priority the Mayor has committed to delivering before he leaves office.
Adams, a longtime organizer, has worked for years to improve New York City's transportation system. In her new role, she will lead efforts to speed up some of the slowest buses in the country and make them free. She will work across agencies and external partners to strengthen support for the initiative and will report to the First Deputy Mayor.
"My administration is grounded in a simple belief: that the future New Yorkers have been organizing toward for years must be delivered. That means streets that are safe, buses and trains that people can rely on and a public transit system that is affordable, accessible and built to grow with our city," said Mayor Mamdani. "Elizabeth brings a deep commitment to this fight. Her leadership will be critical as we make our buses fast and free and build a 21st-century transit system that works for everyone."
"We are so excited to have Elizabeth join our Administration as Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses. Elizabeth has dedicated her career to making our streets safe, affordable and accessible," said First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan. "Elizabeth is uniquely qualified to lead our efforts to deliver fast and free buses. Her organizing prowess and clear ability to build coalitions is exactly what we need to give New Yorkers the transit system they deserve."
"New Yorkers are tired of being told to just wait a little longer, and with the appointment of a Senior Advisor dedicated solely to making our buses fast and free, Mayor Mamdani is telling them that the wait is over." said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. "We are excited to welcome Elizabeth to City Hall and work together to deliver the transit system that our city and its residents deserve."
"New Yorkers deserve fast, reliable buses - and Elizabeth Adams has consistently centered the needs of everyday riders and communities in her years of advocacy," said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn. "We look forward to working with her to deliver our bold agenda for the more than 1 million daily bus riders stuck on some of the slowest buses in the nation."
"I am honored to be joining the Mamdani administration as Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses," said Elizabeth Adams, Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses. "Our streets belong to the people of New York City and that starts with our buses. Mayor Mamdani has made improving public transportation and infrastructure a priority and I am looking forward to working with our partners in government to deliver on making our buses fast and free."
"You can tell who really cares about transit by who shows up. Elizabeth is always there on the frontlines and brings the policy expertise and organizing chops that this work demands," said Transportation Committee Chair Councilman Shaun Abreu. "These skills will serve her well as the Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses, and I look forward to working with her and the Mayor to improve our transit system for every New Yorker."
"The fare free bus pilot program I championed with Mayor Mamdani was a resounding success," said Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris. "I am so glad Mayor Mamdani is continuing to push for free buses by appointing Elizabeth Adams to help steer its future."
"I'm delighted Mayor Mamdani has appointed public servant and transit advocate Elizabeth Adams as Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses. Manhattanites have been clear: there is an affordability and mobility crisis facing our city. Together with Elizabeth, I look forward to turning fast and free buses from policy into reality, which will drastically speed up travel times and cut costs for the 1.3 million+ New Yorkers who depend on MTA buses every day," said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
"Our communities experienced the benefits of a fare-free bus pilot that was made possible by Mayor Mamdani's leadership as a legislator. Appointing Elizabeth Adams as the Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses demonstrates the Mayor's continued commitment to delivering the high-quality bus service New Yorkers deserve. Elizabeth's tenacity and years of expertise in public transit policy will be crucial to achieving the goal of fast and free bus service," said State Senator Julia Salazar.
"I'm thrilled to see Elizabeth Adams stepping into the role of Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses. I've had the privilege of working alongside her at the forefront of street safety - fighting to improve public transit and build a New York City that is safer for pedestrians, cyclists, bus operators, deliveristas, micro-mobility users and drivers alike. As a co-sponsor of the original legislation and a champion in the legislative push for fast and free buses, I've seen firsthand how critical this work is. Elizabeth's leadership has been instrumental in advancing faster, more reliable and more equitable bus service, and I look forward to continuing this work together to deliver a transit system New Yorkers deserve," said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.
"Elizabeth Adams is a champion for safe streets. Excited for her to help implement the Mayor's bold bus agenda," said Council Member Lincoln Restler.
"Elizabeth has spent her career in and out of government fighting for a more equitable city that centers the needs of marginalized New Yorkers. I had the pleasure of working with her when we were both staffers in the City Council and have seen firsthand how her policy acumen and deep understanding of state and city government have advanced ambitious initiatives. Those are just a few of the skills that make her the perfect candidate to actualize the Mayor's vision of fast and free buses. I look forward to working alongside Elizabeth in this new role and fighting for a transit system that works for all New Yorkers," said Council Member Crystal Hudson.
"Fast and Free Buses are a hallmark of the Mayor's Affordability Agenda and it's exciting to see progress being made toward delivering on this bold idea which has the potential to make a substantial impact on residents in the South Bronx. I'm looking forward to partnering with Ms. Adams and making certain that District 17 is part of the implementation of this initiative," said Council Member Justin Sanchez.
"Elizabeth Adams has spent her career serving the people of New York City through roles in both advocacy and government with compassion, intelligence, and grit. While she'll be sorely missed here at Transportation Alternatives, we're thrilled that she's now stepping into government once more to serve in this important role in City Hall. She is an excellent choice to help enact Mayor Mamdani's mandate for fast and free buses, and we're excited to work together to deliver reliable commutes for millions of New Yorkers," said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives.
"Elizabeth Adams is a seasoned champion of streets that work better for all New Yorkers," said Riders Alliance Executive Director Betsy Plum. "She knows what it takes to transform bus service and save millions of riders time and money. Riders are eager to work with Elizabeth and her colleagues across the Mamdani administration to deliver on the promise of fast and free buses."
"Mayor Mamdani's hire of long-time transit advocate Elizabeth Adams to steward New York City's buses shows just how sincere and committed he and his Administration are to prioritizing faster and more reliable service for the city's bus riders. Having worked with Elizabeth for many years on issues like bus priority projects and congestion pricing, we know she will be a fierce and determined champion for riders' priorities," said Lisa Daglian, Executive Director, Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC).
"RPA is thrilled that Elizabeth Adams has been appointed as Senior Advisor for the First Deputy Mayor. As someone who has worked closely with Elizabeth for many years, I know she cares deeply about the communities of New York. RPA believes streets should reflect the needs of the people who live, work and gather on them every day, and we look forward to working with City Hall and the MTA to speed buses throughout the city," said Kate Slevin, Executive Vice President at Regional Plan Association.
"Elizabeth Adams is the perfect fit for this role - with a combination of government and advocacy experience, she knows how to get things done," said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director of Open Plans. "Fast and free buses are a critical tool towards reducing driving and Open Plans looks forward to working with Elizabeth and the administration to advance these important policies."
"New York City under Mayor Mamdani has an historic opportunity to transform New York City's bus system. Elizabeth Adams has been a fierce advocate for fast buses in NYC and is a great choice. In this strategic new position, she can help elevate any inter-agency obstacles, like coordination with DDC, EDC and the MTA that might otherwise inhibit New York City's ability to deliver world class bus rapid transit, transformative public spaces, and radically faster buses," said Walter Hook, Executive Director of People-Oriented Cities.
"Elizabeth is a fantastic pick for this Senior Advisory role. We've had the opportunity to work alongside one another in advocacy for Congestion Pricing, Fare Fairs and the Bus Turnaround Campaign which helped to propel the 5-borough Bus Network Design," said Renae Reynolds, Executive Director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign. "Elizabeth has been a champion for safer streets and mass transit. She'll be a great champion working to support Mayor Mamdani's vision for the work horses of transit system, our buses."
"We're thrilled that Mayor Mamdani has appointed Elizabeth Adams as Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses to the First Deputy Mayor! Elizabeth has done invaluable work as Transportation Alternatives' Deputy Director for Public Affairs these past few years, and we can't think of anyone better suited to the job of shaping and implementing the administration's bus policies," said Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC.
"Prioritizing NYC buses is not only a win for the environment, it is critical for the upward economic mobility of countless New Yorkers. We applaud Mayor Mamdani on naming Elizabeth Adams as Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses, because she understands that everyone deserves access to reliable and affordable public transportation," said Alia Soomro, Deputy Director for NYC Policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters.
About Elizabeth Adams
Elizabeth Adams is an advocate and organizer focused on improving New York City's transportation system. She grew up in a rent-stabilized, union household and is a product of New York City's public schools.
Adams most recently served as Deputy Executive Director of Public Affairs at Transportation Alternatives, where she worked for more than four years on street safety and transportation policy. She previously spent more than six years at Planned Parenthood of New York City, serving as Director of Government Relations, and also worked in the New York City Council.
She holds a bachelor's degree from University of California, Santa Cruz.
