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NEW YORK (WABC) — New York City subway riders will start seeing officers on every overnight train starting Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul said Thursday.
“I’m not waiting,” Hochul said. “Monday you will start seeing the increased presence on the overnight trains.”
The $77 million strategy will put 750 more police officers on platforms and in stations and 300 more officers on overnight trains.
“We’ve doubled the number of law enforcement personnel in the New York City subway system in one year,” Hochul said.
The governor said most of crime committed on the subway system occurs during overnight hours.
“There is a lot of anxiety on these trains late at night. I want to tamper that down,” Hochul said.
At her State of the State address, Gov. Hochul gave a brief outline of the proposed six-month initiative that would ramp up patrols between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
She had said that most crimes happen overnight and added patrols would be in addition to the National Guardsmen that have been redeployed into the transit system.
Thirty subway stations that account for 50% of crime in the transit system would also see ramped-up enforcement and be prioritized.
“But its the led lights, the cameras, and the shameless fare beaters. It hit our coffers in the MTA hard. So I’ve directed 40 stations (to be outfitted) with modern turnstiles by the end of 2026 and continue until we have completed this process,” Hochul said.
The MTA on Tuesday installed spikes on the turnstiles at the 59th Street/Lexington Avenue station on the Upper East Side. The spikes were installed at the turnstile handrails, hopefully discouraging fare evaders from using the panels to push themselves up and being able to jump over the turnstile.
For Mayor Eric Adams, who’s no stranger to public safety, he applauded the governor for her efforts.
“I love the concept. Former transit police officer, I used to be a transit cop. We used to do TPF, tactical patrol force. We rode the trains from 8 p.m. To 6 a.m., mandatory two hours overtime every night,” Adams said. “I think what the governor presented is in alignment with the partnership that we’ve had when we wrote out the subway safety plan.”
While Hochul also supports legislation to remove those experiencing homelessness in the transit system, Mayor Adams said they are unable to put a mental health worker along with officers when on patrol overnight.
ALSO READ: Mayor Eric Adams announces $650M investment to get homeless people off the streets of NYC
N.J. Burkett has more on the mayor’s plan to get homeless off the streets.
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