New York subway safety efforts expand with barriers and lighting

New York subway safety efforts are moving ahead through a combination of station upgrades and expanded enforcement, with officials pointing to the rollout of platform edge barriers and a systemwide lighting upgrade.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

At a press conference today, city and state leaders said platform edge barriers are now installed at 115 subway stations, as described in an update from Governor Kathy Hochul’s office. They also said brighter LED fixtures are being installed across all 472 stations and are expected to be finished by the end of the year.

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The event, which included Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and Metropolitan Transportation Authority leaders, also highlighted reported progress in reducing subway crime. With two weeks left in the year, officials said subway crime is at its lowest level in 16 years. Overall major crime was reported down 5.2% from 2024 and down 14.4% from 2019.

New York subway safety efforts and subway policing funding

Beyond the physical work, the plan has included an increased police presence. Earlier this year, the state allocated $77 million for a collaboration with the New York Police Department to boost patrols in the subway system. Hochul and NYPD Police Commissioner Jesica Tisch said at the press conference that the state will provide another $77 million to continue increased police patrols into 2026. In a press release, Hochul thanked NYPD officers for helping protect riders and said the state remains committed to public safety measures it says have helped drive down crime across New York City subways.

Mental health initiative and platform edge barriers at subway stations

Officials also pointed to a separate effort aimed at severe mental illness in the subway system. Another $20 million is funding the initiative, which they said has produced more than 900 referrals, including more than 300 involuntary referrals, and more than 7,500 nights of hospital care.

The platform edge barrier program began with a three-station trial announced in 2022; background on that early trial has been covered by Trains News Wire. In 2025, officials said barriers were installed at 101 stations this year, bringing the total to 115 stations with barriers in place. The broader rollout has also been tracked by industry media including Railway Supply.

Ridership growth and MTA safety program

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said the improved crime statistics came during a year of rising use. Subway ridership has increased by nearly 8%, the MTA reported, with more than 1.2 billion rides to date.

MTA CEO Janno Lieber said the year has been consequential for the agency — pointing to higher ridership, customer satisfaction and the authority’s capital plan — but emphasized that safety remains the most important priority.

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