Hochul wants to put an NYPD officer on every overnight NYC subway train
Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr
A uniformed police officer would be on every subway train between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. under a proposal introduced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday. During her State of the State address, the governor proposed new safety measures for the subway, including increased NYPD patrols, new protective barriers on platforms, modern fare gates, and expansion of mental health resources. Two officers will be on patrol overnight every night for six months on each train; according to Politico, the state will cover the cost.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority — and that means making sure our subways feel safe and are safe for every single rider and worker,” Hochul said. “No one should be in fear that they’ll be a victim of crime as they commute to work, go to school or enjoy a night out — that is why we’re partnering with law enforcement, improving our infrastructure and ensuring that New Yorkers struggling with mental illness get the support they need.”
Hochul plans to collaborate with the NYPD to temporarily surge patrol levels across the city’s public transit system. Approximately 750 officers will be deployed, with 300 stationed in subway cars. The increased presence will focus on 30 subway stations and transit hubs that account for 50 percent of all transit-related crimes.
The additional police presence will complement the 1,000 National Guard troops already stationed throughout the subway system. Hochul initially deployed 750 troops in March, followed by another 250 in December for the holiday season. These troops have been assisting police officers with random bag checks and patrolling the subway system.
Earlier this month, Mayor Eric Adams announced transit crimes decreased by 5.4 percent between 2023 and 2024. But after a series of high-profile crimes on the subway, the mayor announced plans to add 200 officers to 50 stations with the highest crime rates.
The governor will provide funding for new platform edge barriers at over 100 additional subway stations by the end of 2025. These stations will be selected based on feasibility, including those with “standard car-stopping positions” on the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, F, M, and L lines. Priority will be given to stations with island platforms and the highest ridership levels.
To combat fare evasion, Hochul plans to modernize fare gates at over 20 stations across the system in 2025, followed by another 20 stations in 2026. Additionally, exit gates at 150 stations will be adjusted to slow down passenger exits to further reduce fare evasion.
In selecting stations for upgrades, the MTA will prioritize those with higher traffic, accessibility features, and higher rates of fare evasion. Funding will also be provided to install LED lighting in all subway stations throughout the system to increase visibility.
The governor also plans to expand the Safe Options Support (SOS) initiative, which was established to offer outreach to individuals requiring medical and psychiatric services.
The expansion will include the addition of street medicine and street psychiatry providers to SOS teams across the state. These providers will deliver care on-site, ensuring individuals receive timely assistance without the need to leave their belongings or be transported to a hospital.
Hochul will also work with the city’s Department of Homeless Services to expand their 24/7 “Welcome Centers” near end-of-line stations. Additionally, she plans to create dedicated spaces within stations with high numbers of unhoused individuals, allowing the state’s mobile outreach teams to better engage with and provide services.
These investments build upon Hochul’s previous efforts to enhance public transit safety, including a new proposal to ban individuals who assault commuters and transit workers from the system, as well as installing security cameras in every subway car to protect riders, conductors, and staff.
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