Subway crime in New York City reached historic lows this summer, according to an announcement from Governor Kathy Hochul. Data from June 1 to August 31 show that overall transit crime dropped nearly 10 percent compared to the same period in 2024 and declined by 16.8 percent from the summer of 2019. Year-to-date figures indicate record-low levels of transit crime, while subway ridership increased by 9 percent, with more than 311 million rides taken during the summer months.
Felony assaults on the subway system have decreased each month this summer compared to last year. There were a total of 119 felony assaults between June and August, down from 150 in the same period last year—a reduction of 21 percent. The rate was calculated at 0.38 assaults per one million subway riders for these three months. When accounting for higher ridership, there were 1.59 major crimes per one million subway rides this summer, which is a decrease of 30 percent since 2022 and similar to pre-pandemic levels.
“When I took office, I vowed to drive down subway crime and keep it down. With strategic investments in public safety and targeted interventions, crimes across our subway system have officially reached record lows,” Governor Hochul said. “All New Yorkers deserve to feel safe on public transit — and I am committed to continuing investments that make our subways and streets safe.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber attributed improvements in safety to increased police presence, expanded security camera coverage, and enhanced mental health outreach programs: “The subway is safer today than before the pandemic and we all know why: more cops, more security cameras, and more mental health outreach. These interventions and others — funded and supported by Governor Hochul — have us on track for a third straight year of declining crime.”
NYPD statistics indicate that July and August were particularly safe months for riders; both months recorded their lowest-ever levels of reported incidents for those periods. In August alone, overall transit crime fell by nearly a quarter compared to last year’s numbers—down by about 22.8 percent—and felony assaults dropped by over forty percent compared with August last year.
Governor Hochul’s administration has led several initiatives aimed at improving safety within the transit system. In January, $77 million was allocated for a partnership with NYPD deploying officers aboard trains during overnight hours as a deterrent against criminal activity.
“With strategic investments in public safety and targeted interventions, crimes across our subway system have officially reached record lows.” — Governor Kathy Hochul
Efforts addressing mental health challenges include Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT), which pair clinicians with MTA police officers throughout stations in all boroughs except Staten Island; these teams have made over 750 referrals out of the system so far.
Other measures implemented under Governor Hochul’s leadership include funding ten SCOUT teams ($20 million), installing over 32,000 security cameras—including more than half inside train cars—adding new platform barriers at dozens of stations with plans for further expansion by late next year, upgrading lighting systems across hundreds of stations, establishing support units at Manhattan Psychiatric Center for homeless individuals experiencing severe mental illness (50 beds), improving coordination between law enforcement agencies through an MTA Criminal Justice Advocate role, and installing cameras inside conductor cabs.
MTA Chief Security Officer Michael Kemper commented on recent trends: “Surging ridership and falling crime is very good news for MTA riders, who consistently rank subway safety as their number one concern. We remain focused and will continue working with the NYPD and our law enforcement partners to ensure this downward trend continues.”
NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow added: “Keeping riders and employees safe in the transit system is always top of mind at NYC Transit and thanks to the investments made by Governor Hochul and law enforcement partners, we’re delivering on that commitment. With surging ridership, historic on-time performance, and decreasing crime statistics this summer, riders can rest assured they will be receiving safe, efficient and reliable trips on the subway.”
