The MTA is testing new turnstile designs at subway stations, starting with tall glass doors at Broadway-Lafayette Station. These gates, designed by Conduent, open quickly when a fare is paid and close immediately after. They resemble equipment found at automated passport control in airports and feature lights and smooth glass.
This initiative is part of a $1.1 billion project to overhaul turnstiles at 150 stations, a significant change for the MTA as it seeks to combat financial losses from fare evasion, projected to cost the agency $400 million this year. Despite the advanced features, commuters are already discussing ways to evade the fare. Suggestions range from jumping over to crawling under the gates, with some noting the doors are low enough for this.
MTA officials claim these new gates can detect fare evasion attempts, sounding alarms when someone tries to sneak in. However, passengers have been seen struggling with the sensor features. The agency is also testing designs from other contractors like Cubic, which features digital screens, while temporary fare evasion measures like spike guards are being installed across the city at existing turnstiles, achieving a 60% reduction in fare evasion at tested locations.
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