As fare evasion continues to be a significant challenge for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), a new strategy emerges to combat the issue with the installation of metal fins and plastic paddles on subway turnstiles throughout New York City. These fixtures, resembling shark fins, will be affixed to nearly every turnstile in an effort to deter would-be fare dodgers, having already been installed at 327 of the city's 472 subway stations—with an additional 129 stations slated for an upgrade by the end of the following month, the MTA disclosed, Gothamist reports.
Despite the seemingly odd aesthetic of these new attachments, MTA officials stand by their effectiveness, as NYC Transit President Demetrius Chrichlow was quoted by Gothamist, who said "Some members of the public might think these interventions just look funny, but the truth, the truth of the matter is these modifications work," the MTA estimates that the new barriers will save the agency close to $400 million in fare evasion losses this year, with a striking 60% reduction in fare evasion at stations where the measures have been already employed.
The installation of these features is part of a broader MTA effort to overhaul fare collection and combat evasion, which also includes the redesign and replacement of fare gates at 150 stations as outlined in their five-year construction plan, at a cost that far exceeds the $7.3 million earmarked for the turnstile modifications—this budgetary comparison highlighted by ForumDaily's reporting on the matter.
Controversy arose regarding the procedure in which these equipment purchases were made; the MTA board labeled it an "immediate operating need," including it under an "emergency order" allowing them to proceed without board approval due to the pressing nature of fare evasion, which had officially been designated as an "urgent operational issue" on May 15 by the MTA, ForumDaily covered; and yet, some board members voiced concerns about the lack of oversight and the potential safety risks for those who might attempt to evade fares despite the hindrances, citing the propensity of youth to engage in risk-taking behaviors.
Finally, the MTA plans to introduce four new turnstile designs at 20 stations later this month as part of a pilot program aimed at further curbing fare evasion.
