MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber riding the subway on March 6, 2025.
Photo by Dean Moses
As MTA Chair and CEO, I know that the reality of safety in the transit system is not just in the stats.
New Yorkers and visitors alike form opinions based on lived experience, and when they see people breaking the rules – whether it’s fare beating, open drug use, smoking, or stretching out along the seats – it can make them feel like the subway is a chaotic, lawless place.
That’s not acceptable to the new MTA. We’ve been taking a leading role in response to safety issues far beyond the traditional mission of a transit operator. This agency has never worked so closely with the NYPD, State Police, and other law enforcement partners.
We are gratified that Gov. Kathy Hochul provided funding to deploy more officers in the system. Not only do they fight crime, but seeing and hearing the officers on platforms and trains makes riders feel that much safer.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch deserves credit for setting the tone. She’s made it clear to her team that the MTA’s rules must be enforced, and the results speak for themselves. Two months into 2025, subway crime is down 29% compared to 2024 and down 45% compared to this time five years ago, before the pandemic.
Riders can feel the difference, and they’re voting with their bank card taps and MetroCard swipes. Mass transit ridership is up nearly 10% year over year, and that trend’s not going to stop. By running good service – lots of it – and prioritizing safety, we can keep them coming back, which is good for the New York economy.
But there’s always more we can do. I am particularly focused on the issue of criminal recidivism. We see it all the time — the same folks breaking the same rules and committing the same kinds of offenses. Most of them have long rap sheets with dozens of prior arrests. It’s past time to close the revolving door.
That’s why I’m pushing for reforms in Albany to the criminal justice system, especially Governor Hochul’s proposal to change the onerous evidence discovery rules that make it so difficult for prosecutors to bring cases. We are also asking the Legislature to establish what we’re calling an Aggravated Transportation Offense to deal with chronic offenders.
We can’t afford not to act. The transit system is too important to the City and this region to allow the perception of safety, or lack of it, to chase people away.
