New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced in her annual “State of the State” address on Tuesday, January 14th, that within the next six months, every late-night subway train in New York City will be equipped with police officers to enhance public transportation safety. The police patrols on the subway will run from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., with the state government covering the full cost.
This initiative comes in response to recent violent incidents in the subway system, including a further upgrade following Mayor Eric Adams’ announcement of increased subway police presence. The plan includes deploying around 750 patrol officers citywide, with 300 stationed inside subway trains. Additionally, there will be a focus on patrolling 30 high-crime subway stations, which account for approximately 50% of the total subway system crime.
The governor also announced plans to install platform edge barriers to improve safety. By the end of 2025, 100 subway stations will have completed the installation of platform edge barriers, prioritizing high-traffic stations with standard train docking locations.
These measures are being introduced in the wake of a recent series of shocking subway violence incidents in New York City. One incident occurred on New Year’s Eve when a man was pushed onto the subway tracks at the 18th Street station in Manhattan, narrowly escaping death. Another case involved a woman being set on fire and killed by an undocumented immigrant on the F train in Brooklyn.
Governor Hochul pointed out that while overall subway crime rates decreased by approximately 5% in 2024, there has been an increase in major violent crimes. She emphasized that increasing law enforcement is a crucial step, but addressing recidivism is equally vital.
New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated, “The key to curbing crime lies in addressing the high recidivism rate.”
Tisch commended the governor’s support for amending the Criminal Discovery law, believing it will help prosecutors more effectively bring violent repeat offenders to justice. She added, “This initiative not only increases police presence on subway trains but also provides support for reducing recidivism.”
To enhance the public’s sense of safety while riding the subway, Governor Hochul also plans to equip all subway stations with LED lighting by the end of the year and install new fare gates at 20 stations starting in 2025 to curb fare evasion. Hochul said, “Safety is my top priority, and we will ensure the subway becomes a public space where everyone can use it with peace of mind.”
Transport advocacy group Riders Alliance and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials expressed their support for these measures. MTA Chair Janno Lieber praised the state government’s commitment, believing these initiatives will effectively boost the sense of security for passengers and staff.