Overview
- The MTA, which briefed its board Wednesday, said it will install the new glass-door gates at every entrance of 20 stations by year-end and launch competitive bidding for a 150-station rollout funded at $1.1 billion.
- Officials reported 20% to 70% drops in fare evasion at sampled sites, based on one week of video analysis from seven anonymized stations while the camera-and-AI measurement system continues training and validation.
- Each prototype uses tall, swinging glass doors tied to OMNY taps and sensors that stay open for exiting riders and limit the main evasion routes the MTA identified as emergency exit misuse and jumping or crawling under turnstiles.
- Safety reports include riders caught in the doors, with notices of claims filed but no lawsuits, and the MTA says it has adjusted door timing and sensors to better detect items like backpacks and to reduce pinches.
- About 31% of daily riders have used the pilot gates, with some praising easier access for wheelchairs and strollers and others citing slower flow or fear of getting hit, as outlets like amNewYork and Gothamist emphasize expansion and the New York Post questions the limited data.