The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is set to implement a pilot program later this year, replacing conventional subway turnstiles with modern fare gates aimed to reduce fare evasion. This initiative, which will introduce the gates in 20 New York City subway stations, represents a portion of the MTA's broader effort to address fare evasion issues that have been estimated to cost the agency more than $700 million annually, according to FOX 5 New York.
During a MTA committee meeting on Monday, transit officials laid out test plans for new fare gate designs sourced from four different companies. Each new design is meant to be considerably more secure than the horizontal turnstiles of old—glass sliding doors that officials have described as being "very difficult" to force open—and look to quickly close the chapter on a history where fare evasion sometimes seemed as simple as a jump, duck, or dodge. "These gates are the cutting edge and are aimed at both ensuring fare compliance and making the system more accessible and easier to use," Jamie Torres-Springer, MTA construction chief, said in a statement obtained by Gothamist.
The conversation around turnstile security has evolved significantly since the introduction of new gates in 2023 which, despite technologically advanced features, fell short due to their susceptibility to a simple TikTok hack allowing multiple riders to sneak in behind one paid fare. Subsequent MTA measures included installing metal spikes and hiring private security guards, which have been credited for reducing fare evasion by 36% at emergency gates where guards were stationed, FOX 5 New York reports. The new gates are part of MTA's $1.1 billion proposal to revamp fare gates across 150 stations—a plan that awaits funding and approval.
Fare evasion statistics have demonstrated a drop to nearly 10% of riders during the first three months of 2025, down from an estimated 13% in the third quarter of 2024. The declining trend is largely attributed to strategies like imposing a 15-second wait time for emergency gates to open, aiming to compel people to properly utilize the regular turnstiles. Further changes have included limiting "back-cocking" at the turnstiles, a technique used commonly to circumvent the fare. MTA plans to correct this issue at every subway turnstile by summer, as they prepare to also introduce modern fare gates at stations such as Atlantic Ave-Barclays Center, 14th Street-Union Square, and Forest Hills-71 Avenue, with an expected rollout at 40 stations by the end of 2026, according to Gothamist.
