Subway safety is a big chunk of New York’s tentative $254 billion FY2026 budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Thursday, marking a critical move that comes at a time of increased concern after a recent spate of high-profile crimes on the rails.
Hochul explained that the state’s budget deal, which includes a fully funded $68.4 billion MTA capital plan, will feature major enhancements to subway safety, including more law enforcement on patrol, protective barriers at 100 additional stations, and further efforts to crack down on fare evasion.
The governor said on May 1 that subway crime is down 11% since last year because some of these efforts have already been implemented on the trains—even before the state budget was approved.
“When it comes to keeping New Yorkers safe, I refuse to back down, and that is why I fought for a budget that is delivering on my promises to add more police in our subways, invests in crucial safety upgrades, and cracks down on shameless fare evaders,” she said. “For NYC to thrive, our mass transit system must be safe, strong and reliable, and we are delivering a State Budget that supports these goals.”
The breakdown of the safety funding includes a $77 million increase in NYPD police presence on platforms and an additional $45 million for National Guard deployment into transit and commuter hubs
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the state-run agency has already seen bumps in ridership due to various factors, including safety priorities.
“We are seeing surges in ridership and part of that is attributable to the increased sense of safety from [the governor’s] investment in police presence, which is especially dramatic on the overnights on the train,” he said.
Addressing homelessness on subways
The governor said the budget allocates funding to deploy more Safe Options Support teams that include advocates who help those who are homeless or severely mentally ill on the trains get treatment and housing.
The support will also include investments that will expand the NYC Department of Homeless Services “Welcome Center” model to create spaces for mobile outreach teams to work with those in need.
“I vowed to keep people who have severe mental health problems who are in our subways on our streets, vow to get them off these city streets and trains and get them into a hospital bed where they can get some help,” the governor said. “I’m proud to say with our new budget in place, we delivered on these promises. When it comes to public safety, I refuse to back down.”
Infrastructure improvements
While not directly related to safety, the approved state budget and MTA capital plan include funding for the Interborough Express, a railway that will directly connect passengers from Brooklyn to Queens, bypassing Manhattan.
The approved capital plan also allocates funding for 75 miles of updated signaling, new railcars, and modern fare gates to combat fare evasion and bolster accessibility within stations.
