Protective barriers in subways are showing up all over NYC—and riders are feeling the difference.
If you’ve noticed some new glass barriers along the edge of your subway platform recently, you’re not imagining it. The MTA has officially installed protective platform barriers at 56 subway stations across New York City, and it’s just the beginning.
This move is part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2025 State of the State plan to make transit in NYC safer, cleaner and more reliable. The goal? To install these safety barriers in over 100 stations by the end of this year —and as of now, the project is right on track.
Barriers Built In-House, Delivered Faster and Cheaper
What’s impressive is that the barriers are being built and installed using in-house MTA labor, making the whole process quicker and cheaper than expected. Instead of outsourcing, NYC Transit workers are handling the job from start to finish—saving both time and taxpayer dollars.
And it’s not just the barriers. The MTA is also upgrading lighting in stations citywide with bright LED bulbs —already completed in 342 stations with the rest of the system set to be done by year-end.
Riders Say They Feel Safer
According to recent surveys by MTA, a majority of subway riders say the platform barriers make them feel safer—and that includes a whopping 88% of riders aged 65 and older. With more visible safety features like station lighting, surveillance cameras in every car and now these barriers, subway crime is down in 2025—3% lower than last year, and almost 10% lower than pre-COVID levels.
Governor Hochul said it best: “New Yorkers’ safety will always be my number one priority, and customers need to both feel and be secure every time they ride the subway.”
Where Are These Barriers Showing Up?
So far, stations along lines like the 2, 4, 5, 6, E, F, J, L, M, R, Z (and others) are being prioritised—especially busy island-platform stations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.
The MTA is focusing on where barriers can be added most efficiently—stations with standardised train stopping positions and higher ridership. If you haven’t seen them yet, you likely will soon.
As someone who rides the subway almost daily, I can honestly say this is one of the smartest safety upgrades in years. Accidental falls, crowding near the edge and track intrusions have always been quiet concerns. These barriers helps eliminate all of that—and they send a clear message: rider safety matters.
Assembly member Alex Bores summed it up nicely: “Protective platform edge barriers save lives… and encourage ridership. A fully populated subway system is a safer system.”
This is the kind of real, visible improvement New Yorkers have been asking for. It’s not flashy or futuristic—just solid, practical progress that makes getting around the city a little more secure.
If you ride often, you’ll likely spot one of these new barriers soon—if you haven’t already. And if they make you feel a little more comfortable waiting for the train, that’s kind of the whole point.
You can find the official MTA press release here.
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