New Yorkers taking the subway may soon see spikey new additions to the turnstile gates.
The MTA said newly installed sharp metal barriers are meant to deter turnstile jumpers. The installation is part of the city’s plan to prevent fare evasion.
As of now, the MTA said the subway spikes have been installed at the 59th Street-Lexington Avenue and 42nd Street-Times Square subway stations.
![](https://i0.wp.com/media.nbcnewyork.com/2025/01/MTA_SPIKES.jpg?ssl=1)
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But videos appeared on X, formerly known as Twitter, last week, showing a number of masked individuals easily hoping over the turnstiles and avoiding the spikes — and the fare.
Back in 2022, the MTA estimated fare and toll evasion cost the transit agency nearly $700 million.
When reached for comment Saturday, a spokesperson directed NBC New York to a press release from May 2024 detailing the “turnstile fin” pilot project — one of many approaches to addressing what the agency considers a costly and systemic problem.
The “fin” installation isn’t the only method deployed to try and curb straphangers beating the fare. The MTA has been widely using “gate guards,” who are positioned at the emergency exit gates in an effort to stop people from tailgating inside the station as riders exit.
The move comes as riders brace for another price hike.
At the end of last year, the MTA approved his bi-yearly fare increase for subway riders. The current fare of $2.90 is expected to jump to at least $3 this coming August.
The last increase, in 2023, saw the fare jump 15 cents, from $2.75 to the current rate of $2.90.
MTA subway stations get metal fins in latest bid to curb fare evasion – NBC New York
In a new effort to crack down on fare evasion, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has installed metal fins in subway stations across New York City. These metal barriers are designed to prevent passengers from entering through emergency exits or jumping over turnstiles without paying.
The MTA has been struggling to combat fare evasion, which costs the agency millions of dollars in lost revenue each year. In response, they have implemented various measures, including increased police presence and the installation of new technology such as fare gates and turnstiles.
The metal fins are the latest tool in the MTA’s arsenal against fare evasion. The sharp metal protrusions are meant to deter passengers from attempting to bypass the fare gates, while still allowing for emergency exits in case of an evacuation.
While some critics have raised concerns about the potential dangers of the metal fins, the MTA insists that they are a necessary step to protect their revenue and ensure a fair system for all passengers.
So far, the metal fins have been installed in several subway stations throughout the city, with plans to expand to more locations in the future. The MTA hopes that these new measures will help to reduce fare evasion and improve overall safety and security for riders.
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MTA subway stations, metal fins, fare evasion, NYC subway, MTA news, public transportation, subway security, MTA fare enforcement, NYC news, transit system, urban infrastructure.
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