![\"MTA](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/55156881948_c17134e246_c.jpg\" "\\"NYC")
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NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow.<\/p>\n
Marc A. Hermann \/ MTA<\/p>\n
New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow on Monday slammed the Transport Workers Union (TWU) for its renewed push for legislation that would require the MTA to maintain two-person crews<\/a> on all subway trains that currently have them.<\/p>\n Crichlow, during the MTA board\u2019s March 23 New York City Transit Committee meeting, said the TWU International-supported legislation would prevent the MTA from expanding one-person train operation (OTPO) technology to more of the city\u2019s train lines. TWU\u2019s Local 100 represents all of the city\u2019s subway workers \u2014 including its roughly 36,000 conductors, who could be impacted by the MTA\u2019s move to OPTO.\u00a0<\/p>\n For generations, conductors have opened and closed train doors, and made announcements regarding service changes, among other matters. Union reps say conductors also play a critical role in guiding passengers during emergencies.<\/p>\n The NYC Transit president\u2019s comments came after the union recently revived<\/a> its effort to mandate the MTA maintain a two-person crew \u2014 consisting of a driver and conductor \u2014 on every train that currently has one.<\/p>\n \u201cLegislating details of New York City Transit\u2019s daily operation, of its trains and its stations, is unwise generally,\u201d Crichlow said. \u201cHere it will\u2026prevent New York City Transit from safely taking advantage of new technology that could save the public millions of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n Crichlow added that OPTO has become the \u201cindustry standard that high performing organizations, high performing transportation networks, are implementing.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt is their operating strategy,\u201d he continued. \u201cThis is not an area that New York needs to take steps backwards, not an area that New York needs to be last.\u201d\n<\/p>\n John Chiarello, the president of TWU Local 100, rejected Critchlow\u2019s comments in a statement to amNewYork, in which he portrayed conductors as crucial to keeping the subway system safe.\n<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s unwise is doing away with a set of eyes and ears on trains that prevents perilous situations from happening during operation and allows for our members to be first on the scene when an emergency situation occurs,\u201d Chiarello said. \u201cOther transit systems around the world are just that\u2014other transit systems. Not New York\u2019s. Our system serves more people 24\/7 than any other system in existence.\u201d<\/p>\n Union disputes Crichlow\u2019s cost claims<\/p>\n Presently, while most train lines still operate with two-person crews, the agency has introduced OPTO on its shuttles and some low-ridership lines over the weekends. But just implementing it across those lines is already saving the agency $9 million annually, Crichlow said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s money that\u2019s reinvested back into employees, that\u2019s reinvested back into service,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n Crichlow also contended the legislation would increase costs, though it appeared he was referencing a previous version<\/a> of the bill that would have required two-person crews on every train line, including those that already have OPTO. The new legislation would require two crew members on all lines that currently have them, but not those with OPTO.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s factually wrong; it\u2019s not going to cost the MTA a dime more than what they\u2019re laying out right now,\u201d said John Samuelson, TWU International\u2019s president, in an interview.<\/p>\n![\"MTA](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-5.57.23-PM.jpg\" "\\"NYC")
FILE \u2013 An MTA New York City Transit conductor on board a subway train.<\/p>\n