The MTA's efforts to combat fare evasion with new barriers at subway stations are facing scrutiny over their effectiveness.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority ( MTA ) is implementing novel strategies to combat subway fare evasion , just weeks after installing spikes on select turnstiles. A recent addition to the Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall/Chambers Street station involves four-inch high metal shields, but CBS News New York's cameras captured individuals successfully jumping over these barriers. 'They don't seem very effective,' commented subway rider Keith Kelly.
'I don't really understand how it discourages people because you can easily hop over it,' echoed another rider, Justin Jimenez.Weeks prior, the transit agency deployed spiked metal barriers at the 59th Street/Lexington Avenue station as a deterrent. While these barriers may not completely halt all instances of fare evasion, some passengers remain optimistic. 'I think it could work. It could work. We'll have to see,' expressed Ann Marie Edden.Currently, the Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall/Chambers Street station stands as the sole location equipped with these new barricades, as the MTA diligently assesses their effectiveness. Fare and toll evasion inflicted a significant financial burden on the MTA in 2022, amounting to nearly $700 million, according to the agency. 'It is a problem well apart from the financial consequences for the MTA. When it feels disorderly at the entrance to our system, that is harmful to everybody,' stated MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. Last month, Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled a plan to prioritize subway safety and fare beating, encompassing the installation of additional barriers at 100 more stations, increased deployment of NYPD officers, and the modernization of entry gates. Notably, fare evasion witnessed a 26% reduction between June 2024 and December 2024, as reported by the MTA
MTA Subway Fare Evasion Barriers New York City
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