In an attempt to crack down on fare evasion, MTA authorities said on Monday that emergency escape gates at three subway stations will soon require 15 seconds to open.
The 138th Street–Third Avenue station on the 6 line, Flushing Avenue on the J, M, and Z lines, and 59th Street on the 4, 5, and 6 lines will all have their gates rearranged with 15-second delays by mid-February.
The three stations were selected, according to MTA officials, because they contain enough turnstiles to allow large crowds of commuters to flee real emergencies—such as a fire or terrorist attack—even in the event that the emergency gates are delayed by fifteen seconds.
The MTA is employing several strategies to combat fare evasion, which reportedly cost the agency $285 million in 2022. However, officials did not specify if the 15-second wait times at emergency gates will be extended to other stations.
To discourage fare-cheaters, the MTA has employed private security to station themselves close to turnstiles for the past two years. Additionally, it is modifying over 3,400 turnstiles to stop fare evasion by passengers who pull back the bar just far enough to go past in a technique known as “back-cocking.”
At the Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer station in Queens, the agency is also testing a new turnstile design that is meant to be more difficult to leap over. However, some passengers at the station have already discovered that by passing their palm over a sensor, they may unlock the gates without having to pay.
