January 13, 2026 If you’ve been holding your breath on a crowded L-train platform or glancing over your shoulder at 2:00 a.m., change is coming.
Governor Kathy Hochul is officially doubling down on subway safety, pouring millions into a plan that promises to transform the underground experience. From physical steel barriers to elite mental health "strike teams," the state is moving to ensure that the lowest crime rates in 16 years weren't just a fluke.
85 New Stations Getting "The Guardrail Treatment"
The most visible change coming to your commute is the expansion of platform edge barriers. After successfully hitting a goal of 115 stations last year, Hochul is pushing the total to 200 stations by the end of 2026.
These yellow railings are designed to prevent the nightmare scenario every New Yorker fears: being pushed or falling onto the tracks. While they aren't the full-length glass doors seen in Paris or Tokyo, they represent a massive shift in how the MTA manages platform safety across the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, F, M, and L lines.
The $77 Million Security Blanket
Safety isn't just about railings; it's about boots on the ground. Hochul has pledged to fund another year of enhanced overnight NYPD patrols. This $77 million investment ensures that even in the dead of night, the presence of law enforcement remains a deterrent to crime, which plummeted to historic lows in 2025.
Mental Health "SCOUT" Teams: Expansion vs. Elimination
The most controversial part of the plan involves the Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT).
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The Plan: Hochul wants to grow the program by 50%, jumping from 10 to 15 teams. These units—a mix of MTA police and clinical staffers—have already facilitated 7,500 nights of inpatient hospital stays for those in crisis.
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The Goal: To move individuals with severe mental illness off the tracks and into treatment, sometimes through involuntary hospitalization if they pose a danger.
