Public transit advocates say the subways are in a crisis because of the increase in crime.

After a series of violent crimes in the city’s transit system, concerns about subway safety took center stage during an MTA Committee meeting Monday. More than a dozen people spoke in the public comment period.

“Today, we are declaring a state of emergency in the subway system,” said Charlton D’Souza, the president of Passengers United.

“Our subways are the lifeblood of this city. We need to be reassured by our elected officials that we’re going to feel safe on the subway,” added transit advocate Andy Pollack.

What You Need To Know

  • After a series of violent crimes on the city’s transit system, concerns about subway safety took center stage during an MTA Committee meeting Monday

  • Major crime in the transit system is up 42% year-to-date

  • According to the NYPD, overall arrests are up too, by 46%

  • More than 90,000 summonses have been written for quality-of-life crimes

The hearing comes after Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced a new joint initiative Saturday aimed at increasing public safety.

“Here’s what we’re calling it: Cops, Cameras, Care,” Hochul said Saturday.

The plan will add about 10,000 more patrol hours daily, with 1,200 NYPD and MTA officers working overtime shifts at more than 300 stations every day.

The plan also includes the installation of additional security cameras and two new 25-bed psychiatric units to treat the mentally ill. MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber says the plan is a game changer.

“In recent weeks we’ve seen an upsurge in very disturbing incidents. That’s why the time for action is now. And the mayor and the governor have taken action, rather than pointing fingers at each other — that’s new. For Albany and City Hall not to be pointing fingers, that’s new,” Lieber said.

According to NYPD Chief of Transit Jason Wilcox, overall this year, arrests are up 46% in the transit system, in addition to more than 90,000 summonses issued for quality-of-life crimes. Plus, 63 recent NYPD graduates are joining the pre-existing subway training unit.

“When I say 'fight crime,' those are words being fully realized, put in motion and proactively acted on every day by our NYPD officers,” NYPD Transit Chief Jason Wilcox said.

September was the first month since the pandemic began where more than 90 million subway trips were taken — an average of 3.4 million daily.

Advocates say as more riders return to the subways, it’s important they feel safe.

“Random attacks and shovings by people with mental illnesses are downright scary. But they’re not what the majority of us experience everyday,” said Lisa Daglian, the executive director of PCAC.

​To put it into perspective, this year, there are roughly six major felonies committed per day in the subway system — about the same as 2019 before the pandemic, but far fewer than the average of more than 10 major felonies committed daily back in 1997.

Other advocates say they feel safe in the country’s largest public transportation system.

“I don’t think the MTA has a safety problem. It’s not 1985 anymore. I think you have a public relations problem,” said Michael Ring, a representative of Disabled in Action.

This latest initiative follows other plans set into motion to make New Yorkers feel safe.

Last month, the MTA announced a plan to install surveillance cameras aboard all subway cars.