MTA Chief Downplays Subway Safety Concerns Amid High-Profile Attacks

MTA Chief Downplays Subway Safety Concerns Amid High-Profile Attacks

(TJV) MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber dismissed growing fears about subway crime, suggesting recent violent incidents are being exaggerated as “in people’s heads.” Speaking on Bloomberg Surveillance Monday morning, Lieber acknowledged a series of “terrible attacks” but argued they had created a misleading perception of widespread danger, even though subway crime has dropped 12.5% compared to 2019, before the pandemic.

Recent incidents, including a New Year’s Eve attack where a man was pushed onto the tracks and a separate case of a woman being set on fire in Brooklyn, have fueled public anxiety about safety on the subway. These high-profile crimes have sparked renewed calls for action as congestion pricing initiatives push more New Yorkers toward public transit.

While Lieber claimed the overall threat is overstated, he admitted fare evasion has become a significant issue since the pandemic. To combat this, the MTA plans to replace outdated turnstiles. However, the installation of safety features like platform guardrails—common in cities like London and Tokyo—remains a longer-term consideration.

The MTA is under increasing pressure to address commuter concerns about subway violence, with many calling for faster implementation of safety improvements.