Governor Kathy Hochul says NYC subway system had safest summer on record
Governor Kathy Hochul said the New York City subway system just saw the safest summer on record.
In an announcement at Grand Central on Wednesday morning, she said crime dropped 9% compared to last year.
Fare evasion is also down from 14% last year to 9% this year.
Compared to life pre-pandemic in 2019, overall subway crime is down 16 percent.
"When I took office, I vowed to drive down subway crime and keep it down. With strategic investments in public safety and targeted interventions, crimes across our subway system have officially reached record lows," Governor Hochul said. "All New Yorkers deserve to feel safe on public transit - and I am committed to continuing investments that make our subways and streets safe."
The governor said one reason for the improvement in numbers is the increase in NYPD patrols.
These were started in January as a temporary measure, but Governor Hochul said they will continue.
"These were supposed to be temporary, but New Yorkers I talk to say they feel safer when they see officers on board, so we are going to continue doing that for the months to come," Hochul said.
"The subway is safer today than before the pandemic and we all know why: more cops, more security cameras, and more mental health outreach," said Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO.
Riders also saw the best subway "on-time" performance in a decade.
"I take the subway every morning. I do feel safe. I see more police in place," a commuter said.
The little humps on the turnstiles and jagged edges may be helping, as fare evasion is down 36%.
Investments in Transit Safety Made Under Governor Hochul's Leadership Include:
- Provided $77 million to partner with the NYPD to deploy two officers on every overnight train.
- $20 million to fully fund 10 Subway Co-Response Outreach (SCOUT) teams to provide a clinician-first response to mental health challenges in the subway.
- Placed 32,000 security cameras in the New York City Subway system - including over 17,000 on all 6,000 subway cars at Governor Hochul's direction - and over 15,000 in subway stations.
- Added new platform barriers at 74 subway stations, with the MTA on pace for 100 by the end of 2025.
- Installed brighter LED lights in over 300 subway stations, on pace for all 472 by the end of 2025.
- Established two Transition to Home Units (THUs) at Manhattan Psychiatric Center, creating 50 beds to support homeless individuals with severe mental illness.
- Improved coordination between Law Enforcement and District Attorneys via a new MTA Criminal Justice Advocate.
- Installed cameras in the conductor cabs of subway trains to keep MTA employees safe. To date, the MTA has installed cameras in over 1,100 conductor cabs.
(Information provided by NY Governor's Office)
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