World Cup free-bus pilot (5 weeks, June)

BROKEN as of World Cup kickoff (Jun 12). The 5-week fare-free city-bus pilot (~$100M, later scaled to ~$45M ask) never won state/MTA approval — MTA chair Lieber said in spring he was never even approached (amNY). The actual Jun 10 Mamdani-Hochul-Lieber World Cup transit plan delivers discounted stadium shuttles ($80→$20, $6M state money, 20% NY-resident set-aside) and a Q70 LaGuardia bus lane — no fare-free buses. Tournament window opens with no pilot in place. Sources: amNY; CBS New York Jun 10; NY Governor's Office.