NYC Subway Safety: Justin Fox Argues it Outshines Car Travel Safety
In a hearing held by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in Washington, the safety of New York City's subway system was under scrutiny. Representative Jerry Nadler of Manhattan and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy were present, with Duffy expressing concerns about the MTA's congestion pricing scheme.
According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and recent analyses, the city's subway system is witnessing a complex picture of crime trends.
- Major felonies on the subway have decreased slightly, down 3.9% in 2025 compared to the prior year and 7.3% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Adjusted for ridership, the overall major felony rate is 13% higher than in 2019 but has been trending downward since 2021.
- Felony assaults are a significant outlier, up 18% compared to 2024 and 66% higher than in 2019. When adjusting for ridership, the felony assault rate in 2025 is 128% of what it was in 2019, showing a marked increase.
- Grand larceny (theft of items valued at $1,000 or more) and robbery rates have been falling and are near or below pre-pandemic levels, with grand larcenies currently at their lowest since 2010 on the subway system.
- Subway shootings have seen a dramatic decline, with shooting victims in the subway system dropping by 75% in the first half of 2025 compared to previous years. This contributes to an overall citywide record low in shooting victims and incidents, with major crimes declining by 6% citywide through mid-2025.
The NYPD has increased police presence on trains and platforms, focusing on disorderly conduct enforcement, which authorities say is key to reducing crime and restoring safety perceptions. Separate from felonies and assaults, the dangerous practice of "subway surfing" remains a concern, particularly on the Queens 7 line.
In summary, while New York City’s subway system is seeing an overall decline in many major felony categories and dramatically fewer shootings, felony assaults in the subway are rising notably in 2025, creating a significant trend of concern despite improvements in other areas.
It's important to note that normal subway riders are at almost zero risk of accidental death. Leaving New York City is dangerous, and a transportation secretary concerned about safety wouldn't be trying to scare people away.
Elected officials in New York are taking actions to address the mental-health crisis but could do more. The MTA's congestion pricing scheme, despite Duffy's criticisms, has reduced traffic, increased subway and bus use, and raised hundreds of millions of dollars for transit improvements.
[1] New York City Police Department, Crime Statistics, 2025. [2] NYPD, Subway Surfing Incidents and Enforcement Actions, 2025. [3] NYPD, Crime Trends and Police Presence Strategies, 2025. [4] CDC, Preliminary Mortality Data for 2024, 2025.
- The New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported an increase in felony assaults on the subway, with a 18% rise compared to 2024 and 66% higher than in 2019, despite other major felony categories seeing a decline.
- Despite the concerns raised by Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy regarding the MTA's congestion pricing scheme, it has successfully reduced traffic, increased subway and bus use, and raised hundreds of millions of dollars for transit improvements as stated by the text.
- Rail transportation, specifically the subway system in New York City, is within the focus of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's general-news discussions, with the safety of the system being scrutinized.
- In the realm of crime and justice, the dangerous practice of "subway surfing," though a separate issue from felonies and assaults, is still a concern, particularly on the Queens 7 line, as per the New York City Police Department's 2025 Subway Surfing Incidents and Enforcement Actions report.
