MTA plans to install a new type of turnstiles to combat fare evasion
The New York City subway system is getting new sliding turnstiles. New Yorkers looking to hop on the train may soon notice glass fare gates that would replace rotating turnstiles that have been in place for decades. The redesign of turnstiles is part of a broader effort by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to combat fare evasion.
In 2022, the MTA lost approximately $690 million to fare and toll evasion, according to the Blue Ribbon Panel report. The agency estimates that about $285 million of those losses came from subway fare evasion. The new report, prepared by a group of education, social justice, and law enforcement experts, explores ways to address this problem.
“Fare and toll evasion isn’t just an economics problem: it tears at the social contract that supports mass transit in New York City. New Yorkers are sick of feeling like suckers seeing their neighbors beat the fare or cheat the toll while they pony up their fair share,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.
The Blue-Ribbon Panel report would focus on four “E’s” – Education, Equity, Environment, and Enforcement. In addition to installing new turnstiles, the report proposes to launch a messaging campaign and double the eligibility threshold for Fair Fares to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, allowing an additional 500,000 New Yorkers to pay half-priced fares.
“The report findings address this emerging crisis with a comprehensive plan across all MTA services, while also acknowledging that enforcement alone will not solve this problem,” Lieber said. “The MTA will look to implement some of the Panel’s key recommendations, and we thank them for their tremendous work.”
The new glass turnstiles would also replace the emergency exit doors, which are the largest source of fare evasion, according to the MTA. More than half of subway fare evasion occurs through the emergency gates. The first sliding turnstiles already appeared at Grand Central Terminal. The MTA finds that about 400,000 or 10-15 percent of daily riders avoid paying fares.
Image credit:
Marc A. Hermann / MTA (Flickr)
Resources:
“MTA unveils redesign of NYC subway turnstile as fare evasion solution,” by Aaron Ginsburg (6sqft, 2023)
“MTA is rolling out cutting-edge tech to reduce fare evasion,” by Christina Izzo (Time Out, 2023)
“MTA unveils new designs for subway turnstiles, reports $690M in fare and toll evasion,” by Bahar Ostadan and Clayton Guse (Gothamist, 2023)
“MTA unveils turnstile redesigns to 'stop the bleed' from fare evasion,” (ABC7 NY, 2023)
“NYC Subway Fare Beaters Be Warned: MTA Has New High-Tech Plan,” by Andrew Siff (NBC New York, 2023)
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