NEW YORK (WABC) — Fare evasion dropped about 35% during the first half of the year as the MTA tested new fare gates at 20 New York City subway stations, officials said Wednesday.
The modern gates were installed as part of a pilot program involving three companies: Cubic, Conduent and S Traffic. Cubic, the company behind OMNY, which replaced MetroCard, had the strongest results at two stations with some of the highest fare-evasion rates, according to the MTA.
MTA officials said Cubic’s gates reduced fare evasion by 72%. Conduent also recorded significant declines, while S Traffic saw more modest results.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber gathered Wednesday to praise the progress of the new gates.
“Every time a fare beater steals a ride, they’re stealing money meant for our trains and our buses to keep them moving. They steal money that pays the salaries of our union transit workers and who fits the bill for the missing revenue? The taxpayers, riders who do the right thing,” Hochul said.
The program is backed by more than $1 billion in state funding.
The next 20 subway stations expected to receive the gates will be split among the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. The installations are expected to be completed by the end of the year and include:
Brooklyn
36th Street D, N, R; Bedford Avenue L; Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue D, F, N, Q; Hoyt-Schermerhorn A, C, G; Myrtle Avenue J, M, Z; Newkirk Plaza B, Q
Bronx
Third Avenue-149th Street 2, 5; 161st Street-Yankee Stadium 4, B, D; Fordham Road B, D; Parkchester 6
Manhattan
14th Street-Union Square 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W; 72nd Street 1, 2, 3; 86th Street 4, 5, 6; 125th Street 4, 5, 6; Chambers Street 1, 2, 3; Spring Street C, E
Queens
Astoria Boulevard N, W; Flushing-Main Street 7; Forest Hills-71st Avenue E, F, M, R; Sutphin Boulevard/Archer Avenue-J.F.K. Airport E, J, Z
Hochul said the MTA is also preparing to install them at another 50 stations, with a goal of bringing the gates to nearly 150 stations over the coming years.
MTA officials said the new gates have been used by 63 million riders. In addition to addressing fare evasion, the design is intended to improve accessibility and customer flow.
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