These Subway Stations Will See Major Fare Gate Changes

NEW YORK CITY— Subway riders at 20 more stations will soon encounter wider, touch-free fare gates designed to make it harder to enter without paying and easier for people with wheelchairs, strollers and luggage to get through.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the agency that runs the City’s subway system, plans to begin installing the new gates by the end of 2026 after a pilot program cut fare evasion by an average of 35 percent at 20 stations.

The MTA expects to begin preparing the stations in October.

The agency qualified three companies to compete for the first contracts, and bids are due this month.

The new gates form part of a $1.1 billion overhaul of fare-control areas at 150 stations under the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan.

The stations in the full program serve nearly three-quarters of all daily subway riders.

Which Stations Will Get The New Gates?

The next 20 stations are:

Brooklyn

• 36 St — D, N, R
• Bedford Avenue — L
• Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue — D, F, N, Q
• Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets — A, C, G
• Myrtle Avenue — J, M, Z
• Newkirk Plaza — B, Q

The Bronx

• 3 Avenue-149 Street — 2, 5
• 161 Street-Yankee Stadium — 4, B, D
• Fordham Road — B, D
• Parkchester — 6

Manhattan

• 14 Street-Union Square — 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W
• 72 Street — 1, 2, 3
• 86 Street — 4, 5, 6
• 125 Street — 4, 5, 6
• Chambers Street — 1, 2, 3
• Spring Street — C, E

Queens

• Astoria Boulevard — N, W
• Flushing-Main Street — 7
• Forest Hills-71 Avenue — E, F, M, R
• Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK Airport — E, J, Z

How Much Did Fare Evasion Drop?

The MTA recorded roughly 29 million entries and 34 million exits through the new gates during the pilot. About 40 percent to 50 percent of typical daily subway riders used them at least once.

The largest declines came at Hoyt Street, served by the 2 and 3 trains, and Nostrand Avenue, served by the A and C trains.

Both stations recorded a 72 percent drop in fare evasion. Fare evasion fell 65 percent at 3 Avenue-138 Street, served by the 6 train.

The MTA also evaluated the gates for accessibility, passenger flow, maintenance, reliability, system integration and the accuracy of their data and fare-evasion detection.

Why Are The Gates Changing?

The subway’s familiar three-wheel turnstiles date to the early 1990s, when the MTA began replacing token-era equipment.

The narrow design can make it difficult for people using wheelchairs or traveling with strollers and luggage to enter.

For decades, riders who needed more space relied on emergency exit gates.

Those wider gates eventually became a common way to enter without paying.

The MTA has tried to curb the practice by changing locks, placing guards at gates and delaying exits.

The new fare arrays replace the old setup with wider access points designed to accommodate more riders while keeping the system closed to people who have not paid.

“These touch-free fare gates represent a leap forward in making our transit system more welcoming for everyone, especially riders like me who use a mobility device, those pushing strollers, or carrying luggage,” Quemuel Arroyo, the MTA’s chief accessibility officer, said.

The MTA plans to install new gates at 50 additional stations beyond the first 20, with a second phase of 30 stations expected to be under construction by the end of 2027.

The larger program will eventually reach 150 stations, making it the first comprehensive overhaul of the subway’s fare-control system in more than 30 years.