Just over a year ago, MTA station agents began stepping outside of their booths inside the subway system to assist riders.

They were encouraged to provide straphangers with directions, help riders with fare payments and offer customer service during service disruptions and major planned changes — all face-to-face.

One year later, the MTA said a survey found that riders like the change.

The survey, which was taken in the fall of 2023, found that riders felt safer and more satisfied with their transit experiences after a face-to-face interaction with a station agent, the agency said in a press release.

Customers who reported satisfactory interactions “were more likely to feel safe on platforms (52 percent vs 26 percent) and be satisfied with the subway overall (61 percent vs 31 percent),” the release said.

In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul said the decision to pull agents from the booths was about prioritizing safety and modernizing the customer experience.

“I am committed to making our subways safer and more accessible for the millions who rely on them each day,” Hochul said. “Station agents are the first point of contact for riders in need of assistance, and their continual presence in our stations is delivering results for New Yorkers.”

Station agents being positioned inside booths dates back to the days when customers used tokens — purchased at booths — to ride the trains.