MTA Testing New AI-Powered Subway Gates to Reduce Fare Evasion

By Y.M. Lowy

The MTA is testing new high-tech subway fare gates that use artificial intelligence to help detect fare evasion, replacing traditional waist-high turnstiles with taller, door-style barriers at select stations.

Three companies are competing for a $1.1 billion contract to redesign the city’s subway entry gates. As part of a pilot program, new gate models have been installed at 10 stations so far, with another 10 expected to be added in the coming weeks.

Some of the new systems use cameras and sensors that trigger when someone passes through without paying. The technology captures a short clip and automatically creates a basic description of the person, which is then sent to the MTA.

One of the companies, Cubic, the firm behind MetroCard and OMNY, has gates currently being tested at stations including Atlantic Terminal, Port Authority, and Hoyt–Schermerhorn, with more locations planned. Two other vendors, Conduent and STraffic, are also testing their own designs.

The MTA says results from the pilot will guide which gates are chosen for wider rollout. The agency aims to eventually install the new gates at up to 150 stations across the system.

Illustration photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA