![\"Subway](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/subway-conductor-mta-marc-a-hermann.jpg\" "\\"Hochul")
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Union reps say conductors act as the eyes and ears of trains and platforms, ensuring that passengers get on and off subways safely and properly. As they scope out the station surroundings, engineers (motormen) are always in the first car, operating the train.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marc A. Hermann \/ MTA<\/p>\n
Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill<\/a> on Friday that would have mandated two-person crews on NYC subways throughout the transit system.<\/p>\n Supporters of the failed bill, including the transit workers\u2019 union, argued that a two-person crew is essential for public safety and operational reliability.\u00a0<\/p>\n Critics of the bill have called two-person crews \u201credundant\u201d for subway staffing.\n<\/p>\n Hochul, who vetoed the bill<\/a> on Dec. 19 after it was largely supported and passed by state lawmakers in June, is up for reelection next year. She said in her veto memo that the legislation would \u201ccost as much as $10 million annually, reducing service, and limiting the MTA\u2019s ability to benefit from capital investments in modern rolling stock and signals,\u201d according to Trains.c<\/a>om.<\/p>\n Conductors are \u2018under attack\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n John Samuelsen, Transit Workers Union (TWU) International president, told amNewYork that members were hoping to enshrine the bill into law to prevent the MTA from moving to reduce staff in the next collective bargaining agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cConductors come under attack with every single contract,\u201d he said. \u201cThey want to reduce headcount. And in this case, they don\u2019t really care that reducing headcount would make the system, particularly in New York for a whole lot of reasons, less safe than it is now.\u201d<\/p>\n The MTA, per contract negotiations with the TWU, already has two-person crews on trains, with rare exceptions. But the bill would have essentially helped to enshrine that standard into law.\u00a0<\/p>\n Almost all subway trains in NYC have 10 cars staffed by an operator, who drives the train, and a conductor. Some trains, however, already run without conductors because they are shorter, such as the G and Times Square shuttle.<\/p>\n The veto will not change anything on the ground for conductors, Samuelsen said, but added that its downside is political.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt thoroughly demonstrates that the governor of New York State stands with the abundance bros [tech-driven progressives] and not with blue-collar New Yorkers,\u201d he said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Bill mandating two-person crews on NYC subways: \u00a0\u201cconstraining\u201d the MTA<\/p>\n Meanwhile, some advocacy groups in New York applauded the veto, citing concern that the law would have increased costs for the MTA.<\/p>\n Reinvent Albany, along with other civic and watchdog groups, released a joint statement on Saturday saying they \u201cstrongly support efforts\u201d to give NYC \u201cworld-class\u201d public transportation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis bill would have done the opposite by raising MTA operating costs and constraining the MTA\u2019s ability to implement modern operating methods, adopt new technologies, and provide better service for riders,\u201d the statement read.\u00a0<\/p>\n