NYC DOT - Ferries & Buses

NYC DOT is not responsible for New York City subway or bus service. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates the subway system, issues MetroCards, and operates the Metro-North and Long Island Railroads. Find other area transit providers

Ferries

NYC DOT owns and operates the Staten Island Ferry and works with other city agencies and private ferry operators to promote use of our waterways for transportation. Learn more about the Staten Island Ferry Find information on other ferry service Learn about bringing bikes on ferries

Buses

Public buses in New York City are operated by New York City Transit, a division of the MTA. Get more information on MTA’s bus routes and bus schedules. NYC DOT maintains city streets and sidewalks, bus lanes and bus shelters, and implements street design changes to increase bus speeds and enhance safety for all road users. Get general bus service information from MTA Other bus services in the region NYC DOT sets charter and tour bus parking guidelines Learn about bringing bikes on mass transit

Better Buses

NYC DOT, with the MTA, is committed to working together to improve bus service citywide, ensuring that New Yorkers have bus service that they can depend on at any time of the day. The Better Buses Action Plan is focused on improving bus speeds citywide by 25% and reversing downward bus ridership trends. This is being achieved through a combination of NYC DOT’s bus priority treatments like bus lanes and transit signal priority, increased camera and NYPD enforcement of bus lanes, and MTA bus service improvements. Learn more about Better Buses

Select Bus Service

Select Bus Service is a program to improve bus speed, reliability, and convenience, implemented as a partnership between NYC DOT and the MTA. Select Bus Service is New York City’s brand of bus rapid transit, a system implemented around the world to provide a cost effective approach to transit improvements. Select Bus Service improves bus service through features such as dedicated bus lanes, off-board fare payment systems, and transit signal priority, as well as pedestrian access improvements to bus stops.

Learn more about Select Bus Service

Bus Stop Permits

The owner or operator of an intercity, sight-seeing, shuttle bus, or public transportation bus that makes on-street stops to pick up or discharge passengers in New York City must obtain a Bus Stop Permit from NYC DOT for each on-street bus stop location. If your company is currently operating or planning to operate regularly scheduled bus service in the city from on-street locations, you need to apply for a permit.

Charter buses, school buses, buses licensed by NYC TLC, MTA buses, and buses operating pursuant to a contract or franchise agreement with New York City do not need permits, but must follow all applicable rules and laws. Learn more and apply for a Bus Stop Permit

Motor Carrier Safety Information

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provides safety information for highway travel, and rates the safety records of passenger carriers. Find general safety information on using bus lines Visit the FMCSA's safety records