Research Focus: The Future of the Bus

The NYU Rudin Center's primary research focus in 2025 is The Future of the Bus, a project in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This initiative explores how buses 10 to 15 years from now can be made safer, more efficient, sustainable, technology- and labor-forward, and appealing to a diverse ridership.

Following preliminary research, the project centers on five stakeholder workshops that bring together a broad range of experts—from transit, ridehail, and engineering, to accessibility, labor, policymaking, real estate, and energy—drawn from across the United States. A key area of investigation is the role of autonomous technologies in enhancing bus safety and their potential to reduce traffic congestion.

Insights from these workshops will inform a set of principles to guide the Port Authority and the wider New York region in implementing bus automation. These principles will aim to improve operational efficiency and safety, while elevating the rider experience.

The project will also inform the redevelopment of the Midtown Bus Terminal, currently in its design phase, by identifying opportunities to align it with future transit needs.

This work is grounded in the broader context of New York’s transportation priorities: strengthening regional partnerships, improving airport access, advancing the Port Authority’s XBL (exclusive bus lane) initiatives, and addressing evolving commuting trends and cost efficiencies.

The final report will offer a structured framework for transit automation, establishing benchmarks for integrating emerging technologies into current systems and identifying enhancements to bus facilities. The project is also expected to catalyze public-private partnerships to expand access to safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation—and bolster the public perception of bus transit.

This project is supported by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which aims to maintain an uninterrupted transportation network connecting the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region with the nation. Additional support is provided by the C2SMARTER Center, a Tier 1 U.S. DOT University Transportation Center based at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering.
 

Image: Johann Benedicto