Transportation
NY MTA Seeks Behavioral Expert to Combat Record Fare Evasion
- About 900,000 bus and subway riders skip the fare every day
- Fare evasion may cost the MTA almost $800 million this year
A commuter swipes a metro card through a turnstile slot at a subway station in New York.
Photographer: Sarah Blesener/BloombergNew York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is now looking beyond physical barriers and police presence to reduce fare evasion, which may cost the transit provider as much as $800 million this year.
The MTA, which runs New York City’s subways, buses and commuter rail lines, is seeking to change rider behavior and will select a consultant to create strategies to persuade customers to pay the fare, according to a request for proposals posted on the MTA’s website. About 900,000 subway and bus riders evade fare every day, according to the notice.