Karmactive Staff
The New York City subway system recorded its lowest crime rates for any July since statistical tracking started in 1995, with serious offenses declining by 8% compared to the same month last year, based on figures shared by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on August 10.
Transit officials reported significant drops across multiple crime categories compared to July 2024 – a 16.7% reduction in robberies, 9.3% fewer felony assaults, and grand larcenies down by 6%. The entire month passed without a single burglary being recorded.
This positive trend coincided with growing passenger numbers, as average weekday ridership increased from 3,441,771 in July 2024 to 3,857,298 in July 2025. MTA officials emphasized that crime rates fell below one incident per million passengers during the month.
“It’s clear that efforts to increase overnight patrols, deploy thousands more security cameras, and expand mental health outreach are having real positive impacts,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “By working closely with Governor Hochul and the NYPD, we’re making sure the transit system not only is safe but feels safe for our six million daily riders.”
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These gains follow the rollout of safety initiatives under Governor Kathy Hochul’s comprehensive five-point strategy for enhancing subway security. Two uniformed police officers now patrol every subway train during overnight hours from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Since the beginning of 2025, surveillance capabilities have expanded with over 200 new cameras installed throughout 40 subway stations.
Physical improvements to the system have contributed to the safer environment, including the conversion of 362 out of 472 stations to LED lighting, with full system conversion planned before year-end. Protective platform barriers now exist at 65 locations, with installation work continuing toward a target of 100 stations throughout all boroughs by December.
According to Michael Kemper, the MTA’s Chief Security Officer, crime statistics for the entire year so far show positive trends, particularly in assault reductions, despite increasing numbers of passengers returning to public transit.
However, public perception of subway safety remains mixed. Despite the positive statistics, recent high-profile incidents continue to fuel rider concerns. A 44-year-old man was reportedly pushed onto the tracks at the 50th Street station in Midtown Manhattan. Though the victim managed to climb back to safety before a train arrived, the suspect remains at large.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch has linked many random attacks to untreated mental illness, calling for expanded hospital capacity to address these issues. The SCOUT outreach program, which connects individuals with severe mental illness to treatment and supportive housing, is one component of the MTA’s approach to this challenge.
The transit agency’s statistics exclude the pandemic years when ridership plummeted due to COVID-19 restrictions and remote work policies.
The security enhancements are happening while transit officials tackle fare evasion, estimated to cost nearly $800 million in annual revenue losses. Strategies to address this include redesigned fare gates and delayed-opening emergency exits.
Mayor Eric Adams has also implemented a Summer Violence Reduction Plan, deploying approximately 2,000 uniformed officers on foot throughout the subway system and other strategic areas across the city.
If current trends continue, 2025 will mark the third consecutive year of declining transit crime in New York City’s subway system.
