The colored globes were first introduced across the system in the early 1980s. Each color was used to indicate if a subway entrance was open and whether or not it had a manned booth.
Eventually the yellow globes were discontinued in order to simplify the system. And as the NYC subway continued to make improvements throughout the years and introduce the MetroCard along with High Entrance and Exit Turnstiles, the red globe exit indicators became futile.
Two-tone globes then replaced the solid color globes to now give riders additional light on the stairway entrances.
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