

However, buses ordered after 2008 feature cords rather than tape strips due to the latter's higher maintenance cost. Also in the 1980s, stop-request cords (or "bell cords") were replaced by yellow tape strips. " Kneeling buses" were introduced in 1976, and wheelchair lifts began appearing in 1980. The first large order of air conditioned buses began service in 1966.

Several fleet improvements have been introduced over the system's history. Fixed-route buses are dispatched from 28 garages (20 New York City Bus and 8 MTA Bus) and one annex in New York City. All vehicles, with the exception of paratransit cabs, are fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

The MTA also has over 2,000 vans and cabs for ADA paratransit service, providing service in New York City, southwestern Nassau County, and the city of Yonkers. The fleet consists of over 5,700 buses of various types and models for fixed-route service, making MTA RBO's fleet the largest public bus fleet in the United States. The MTA Regional Bus Operations bus fleet is a fleet of buses in fixed-route service in New York City under the "MTA New York City Bus" (also known as New York City Transit or NYCT) and "MTA Bus" brands, both of which operate local, limited, express and Select Bus Service routes.
