Fare evasion: A growing concern in American cities including New York

"The agency says it loses close to a billion dollars in fares and tolls a year, according to its own data as well as a Sept. 11 report from the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC). According to the CBC report, the 2025 loss is projected to be $900 million, despite subway ridership continuing to increase this year. In fact, the agency just celebrated a major ridership milestone as the 1 billionth rider in 2025 entered the turnstiles in a Brooklyn subway station on Oct. 14."

"Despite the revenue loss, efforts to thwart fare evasion on the rails in NYC have been productive. Jai Patel, the MTA's chief financial officer, said the agency has made important progress over the previous few years even off the rails. Evasion rates on buses have also fallen in every quarter since the second quarter of 2024 despite rising ridership, she said. We have no plans to let up on this crusade any time soon."

"Fare evasion, a long-standing problem in NYC, is increasingly becoming a nationwide issue, with major American cities reporting significant losses while trying various methods to curb the issue. New York City, a persistent battleground for fare evasion, is joined by other metropolitan areas in the U.S. experiencing the same issue. The trend has highlighted the urgent need for efficient solutions and a review of current enforcement strategies."

Fare evasion is a persistent and growing problem that has spread from New York City to major American metropolitan areas, producing significant revenue losses. The MTA reports nearly a billion dollars in annual losses from fares and tolls, with the Citizens Budget Commission projecting a $900 million loss in 2025 even as subway ridership rises. Ridership milestones continue, including the billionth 2025 rider on Oct. 14. Targeted stations such as Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street and 61st Street-Woodside see rampant turnstile hopping. The MTA reports progress on rail and bus enforcement, noting bus evasion rates fell each quarter since Q2 2024 through measures like unarmed gate guards.

Read at www.amny.com