Last February, I asked the MTA:
I’m told the MTA is planning on installing subway platform protection barricades at the Roosevelt Island F Train station.
Is that true?
When will they be installed? Where will they be installed? On the entire station or just a portion of the station? What is the cost?
Please let me know if the MTA has any statement on the matter.
A MTA spokesperson replied:
I cant confirm that information at this time
Last July, NY State Governor Kathy Hochul announced:
… the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has installed protective platform edge barriers at 56 subway stations. Halfway through 2025, the MTA is on track to deliver on Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State direction to install barriers at more than 100 subway stations by the end of the year….
The platform protection barriers are now installed at the Roosevelt Island subway station.
Today I asked the MTA:
The Platform Safety Barriers were installed at Roosevelt Island F Subway Station.
What is the reason for being placed in those specific spots? Will there be any more barriers placed on the rest of the station?
Any additional comment on the matter from the MTA?
A MTA spokesperson answered:
The MTA has installed protective platform edge barriers at more than 65 subway stations and is on track to deliver on Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State direction to install barriers at more than 100 subway stations by the end of the year.
You can find more information on the MTA’s safety and security measures, which led to last month being the safest July in NYC subway history, in this release:
I followed up asking:
Thank you for the reply.
Can you tell me if there will be any additional safety barriers installed at the Roosevelt Island station or has the MTA completed installation of the barriers at Roosevelt Island?
Also, what is the reason for placement of the barriers at certain spots and not others?
The MTA spokesperson replied:
The installation is complete, and the barriers are placed in a manner where they are lined up not to impede customer traffic nor obstruct the car doors.
According to a July 18, 2025 MTA press release:
… “New Yorkers’ safety will always be my number one priority, and customers need to both feel and be secure every time they ride the subway,” Governor Hochul said. “At my direction, the MTA has ramped up the installation of protective platform barriers, building on their efforts to brighten stations with LED lighting and equip every subway car with security cameras. Transit crime is down in 2025, and these efforts will make the subway system safer for everyone.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we’re making investments to ensure that our system not only is safe but — equally important — feels safe to riders. With new platform barriers, MTA’s thousands of new security cameras, increased deployments from the NYPD, and 10 percent less crime before COVID, it’s no wonder customer satisfaction has risen dramatically this year.”
MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said, “This is the new MTA in action: working better, faster, and cheaper to improve the rider experience and keep customers safe. Using in-house labor has driven down costs and increased our pace on this project, and we’re ready to make even greater strides in the second half of 2025.”
NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, “Customers are telling us platform barriers make them feel safer and they want to see more of them. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s support, we’re getting barriers into stations quickly with more than 50 already installed and over 50 more on the way by the end of the year. I’m proud of the NYC Transit team for the incredible work they’re doing in-house to build and install barriers and look forward to keeping up the momentum.”
Recent customer surveys have shown that 59 percent of riders wanted the installation of protective platform barriers throughout the system — including 88 percent of riders over the age of 65. A majority of respondents have also noted that they believe the presence of platform barriers in the station makes them feel safer and believe the barriers will protect against falls onto the tracks. Platform barriers are built and installed using in-house New York City Transit (NYCT) labor with in-house machinery in a NYCT facility resulting in lower costs and a faster installation timeline….
A CBS New York report says the protective barriers are
… in place to essentially keep people off the tracks, and its all in an effort to keep riders safe…
Among the comments on Roosevelt Islander Instagram page about the subway platform edge protective barriers are:
- Who needed this ?
- They do this crap to justify the fare increase. These do absolutely nothing
- people in the comments so mad about … protective barriers … if it helps or protects even one person, it’s worth it. get over it.
- Just like when the bright red life preservers were installed for people who “go in the river” this will do nothing but give minor/no leverage to bureaucratic orgs against people who “go on the subway tracks” while doing nothing to address root problems or actually help people who need it