MTA adds police, more security to protect NYC subway riders, workers

Following a spate of high-profile incidents, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is increasing police patrols on trains and platforms and implementing other security measures to protect riders and transit workers on the New York City Transit subway system.

In partnership with the New York Police Department, every subway train will have a uniformed officer onboard between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last week.

Other security measures include installing new protective barriers on subway platforms to protect riders; upgrading fare gates and delaying egress on exit gates to help crack down on fare evasion; adding LED lighting throughout stations to increase visibility; and updating and strengthening key mental health laws to ensure that New Yorkers with severe mental illness are connected with care instead of being left to languish on subway trains and platforms, MTA officials said in a press release.

The expansion of law enforcement patrols builds on Hochul’s previous announcement in December 2024 to add 250 members of the National Guard to support subway safety, bringing the total to 1,000 National Guardsmen stationed at subway entrances in points throughout New York City.

Approximately 750 NYPD officers will be stationed across New York City with an additional 300 in the train cars themselves. The increase in enforcement will prioritize 30 subways stations and transit hubs that account for 50% of crime in the transit system, MTA officials said.