Politics
New York Transit Investment Bill Expands Centro Bus Services in Syracuse
The legislation directs state funds to Onondaga County transit routes that carry 12 million riders each year through Syracuse.
How we reported this
The New York State Legislature passed the Transit Investment Bill in June 2026, directing additional operating aid to public transit systems in cities outside the New York City region. The measure affects Centro, the bus operator serving Syracuse and surrounding Onondaga County towns, by increasing the state share of its annual budget from 38 percent to 44 percent beginning in the 2027 fiscal year.
Why the change arrives now
State transportation officials completed a required five-year review of upstate transit funding formulas in May 2026. The review showed that Centro’s operating costs had risen 19 percent since 2022 while ridership recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The bill updates the aid formula to reflect those costs and sets aside $28 million over two years for Central New York specifically.
Syracuse residents who rely on bus routes for work and medical appointments will see the first scheduled increases in service hours on the most-used lines, including Route 1 along Erie Boulevard and Route 10 serving the North Side. Centro has stated it expects to add 45,000 extra service hours in the first year of the new funding.
Local budget figures and next steps
The state comptroller’s 2025 annual report listed Centro’s total operating budget at $62 million. Under the new formula, Syracuse and Onondaga County would receive an additional $4.1 million in the coming fiscal year, according to the legislation’s fiscal note. Local advocates at the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board have noted that the extra funds could reduce the need for fare increases that had been under discussion for 2027.
Centro must submit a revised service plan to the state Department of Transportation by October 2026. The plan will determine which routes receive added trips and whether any new evening or weekend coverage is added in neighborhoods such as the Near West Side and Eastwood. Syracuse city council members have scheduled a public hearing on the draft plan for November.