New York City – The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) says July 2025 was the safest July in New York City’s subway system history, with major crimes at their lowest level for any July since records began in 1995 — excluding the pandemic years when ridership was extremely low.
Fresh NYPD statistics show overall major felony crimes fell 8% compared to July 2024. Robberies dropped 16.7%, felony assaults went down 9.3% and grand larcenies fell 6%. Remarkably, there were zero burglaries in the entire month.
Fewer Crimes, More Riders
The safer subway comes as more New Yorkers and visitors return to the trains. Average weekday ridership jumped from 3.44 million in July 2024 to 3.86 million in July 2025 — a gain of more than 400,000 daily riders. Despite this, crime rates remained low, with less than one crime per million riders last 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.”
MTA Chief Security Officer Michael Kemper added, “Transit crime is down year-to-date, led by a drop in assaults, even as more riders return to the system.”
The Subway Safety Push
The drop in crime comes more than a year after Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA launched a Five Point Plan for Subway Safety, which introduced:
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More uniformed police in stations and on platforms
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Security cameras in every subway car
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Bag checks at key stations
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SCOUT homeless outreach teams to connect people with severe mental illness to treatment and housing
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Additional measures to improve rider confidence
NYC Subway Safety Measures in 2025
This year, the MTA has stepped up its safety upgrades, including:
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Two uniformed police officers riding every subway train from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
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Protective platform barriers now installed at 65 stations, with a goal of 100 stations by year’s end across Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx
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LED lighting upgrades in 362 stations to improve visibility, with all 472 stations set for conversion by December
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Over 200 new security cameras in 40 subway stations since January
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Upgraded fare gates and delayed emergency exit doors to reduce fare evasion
A Safer Future Underground
The MTA says these efforts are part of a long-term commitment to making the subway safer and more welcoming for everyone. With crime dropping for the third straight year and millions of dollars invested in modern security systems, officials hope more riders will feel confident traveling at any hour.
“Safety is a top priority,” Lieber said. “We’re not stopping here. The goal is to make sure every rider knows they can trust the subway system — day or night.
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