MTA to test four different modern fare gates across New York City subway system
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The MTA announced Monday they will be testing four different modern fare gates at 20 different stations across New York City.
Later this fall, the MTA will start testing gates from different vendors in select stations before making final determinations on which gate types will be qualified.
Each of the four vendors will be installed at five locations, for a total of 20 stations, including:
- Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr.
- 14 St-Union Square
- 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal
- Delancey St-Essex St.
- Nostrand Av.
- Crown Heights-Utica Av.
- Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av
- Forest Hills-71 Av.
The designs include taller doors in an attempt to prevent riders from hopping the turnstile.
It's all part of the MTA's effort to crack down on fare evasion, which officials say directly impacts the MTA's ability to run the system because every fare paid helps keep trains and buses running.
The goal is to expand to 150 stations in the next five years.
"They generally use paddles that open and close and are very difficult to force open, hold, open or climb over," said President of MTA Construction and Development Jamie Torres-Spring. "They use the most modern sensor object detection and machine learning technology to open and close only for fare paying passengers."
The MTA has already been testing other strategies --- like adding so-called fins and sleeves which it says has cut turnstile jumping by 60% -- and modifying turnstiles to stop a technique known as "back-cocking." That work will be done systemwide by this summer.
Still though - the agency loses between $700 and $800 million annually to free-loaders.
"We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal - including increased enforcement efforts and new infrastructure - to prevent fare evasion, hold perpetrators accountable and keep these numbers trending in the right direction," said Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The NYPD says it has stepped up enforcement and summonses doubled last month for fare evasion, however, the long term goal is to avoid having to give out tickets in the first place.
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