After a surge in Subway crimes over the past months, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will now install nearly 6,400 security cameras in subway trains, as officials work to rebuild riders’ faith in the system’s safety.
On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the effort at a rail yard in Queens, adding that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to put two cameras in each train car in a project expected to take three years to complete.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribute ((Mark Lennihan / Associated Press)
“You think Big Brother’s watching you on the subways? You’re absolutely right,” said Hochul, a Democrat. “That is our intent — to get the message out that we’re going to be having surveillance of activities on the subway trains and that is going to give people great peace of mind.”
Anticipating possible privacy or civil liberties concerns, Hochul said: “If you’re concerned about this, the best answer is don’t commit any crimes on the subway.”
Like most security cameras now found throughout New York City, the ones being installed in subway cars won’t be monitored live. But Hochul said they would still be valuable as a deterrent since people will know they are being recorded, and that the footage could be valuable to investigators trying to solve crimes.
The MTA received about $5.5 million in state and federal funding to purchase and install the cameras. About 200 cameras will be installed each month, with the project wrapping sometime in 2025.
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