• Former Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal would expand NYPD Transit Bureau to approximately 4,000 officers, a 50% increase from current permanent force levels
  • The plan establishes a Subway Safety Director position and mandates monthly safety report cards with detailed crime and enforcement metrics
  • Initiative shifts from temporary deployments to permanent staffing, addressing concerns about subway crime, homelessness, and rider confidence

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is preparing to unveil a comprehensive proposal for New York City to assume partial control of the subway system, with a particular focus on public safety, policing strategies, and operational accountability, according to people familiar with the matter.

The centerpiece of Cuomo's Subway Safety Plan involves rebuilding the NYPD Transit Bureau to approximately 4,000 officers—roughly 50% more than current permanent force levels. This expansion would establish a dedicated, permanent police presence rather than relying on costly overtime deployments or National Guard troops who lack arrest powers.

"The number of police matters less than what those police do," noted Professor Peter Moskos of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in recent testimony. "More police on the subway can prevent crime and disorder, but only with clear leadership and an understanding of what can and should be legally policed."

The proposal comes as Governor Kathy Hochul's administration has relied on temporary measures, including deploying approximately 300 additional officer shifts for overnight patrol over six months at an estimated cost of $154 million split between state and city funds. By December 2024, 1,000 National Guard personnel were patrolling the subway system, though their inability to make arrests limits their effectiveness.

Cuomo's plan would establish a Subway Safety Director reporting directly to the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety to coordinate all aspects of the initiative. This official would convene regular meetings with NYPD Transit, MTA leadership, homeless services, health department, and District Attorney representatives.

The governance structure includes mandatory monthly "Subway Safety Report Cards" detailing crimes by category, enforcement actions, and infrastructure upgrades, with quarterly reports providing deeper trend analysis. An oversight task force including community representatives, transit workers' unions, rider advocates, and experts would conduct site visits and issue independent progress evaluations.

Historical patterns show that policing surges in the transit system have repeatedly succeeded in reducing crime and disorder over the past 50 years, but when vigilance relaxed, problems returned. The 1990s experience with approximately 4,000 transit officers demonstrated that well-staffed transit divisions achieve materially lower subway crime levels.

The proposal addresses interconnected issues of mental health, addiction, and homelessness that contribute significantly to subway problems. Infrastructure improvements include upgrading turnstiles across all stations to prevent fare evasion and unlawful entry, while expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder services.

Public sentiment strongly favors increased police presence. A 2022 Quinnipiac University poll found that an overwhelming 86% of voters support having more police officers in the New York City subway system.

Efforts to reach Cuomo's representatives for additional comment were unsuccessful. The proposal positions public safety as the mayor's highest calling after education, explicitly stating that the plan will deploy officers based on proven, data-driven strategies while addressing nuisance and quality-of-life crimes.

The shift from temporary surge deployments to permanent staffing represents a more sustainable and cost-effective approach than current overtime-dependent models. The emphasis on transparency through regular reporting and community oversight suggests an attempt to balance enforcement with accountability concerns.