Subway Fare and Toll Evasion Reaches Crisis Level at an Estimated $690M in 2022

On May 17,2023, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released the Final Report of the Blue-Ribbon Panel on Fare Evasion, revealing that in 2022 the MTA lost an estimated $690 million in unpaid fares and tolls. A comprehensive plan has been recommended to combat the trend that has reached crisis level as part of the Blue-Ribbon Panel’s mission to “reduce fare and toll evasion rates and dollar losses by half within three years across the entire MTA while boosting paid ridership.” Made up of a group of education, social justice, and law enforcement experts, the report’s findings and suggestions represent the culmination of over a year of intensive work by the 16-person panel. As the MTA looks to implement some of the Blue-Ribbon panel’s key recommendations, it is hoped that these solutions will increase the vital operating revenue the agency needs to provide “efficient and reliable transit service and keep fares affordable.”

Source:    https://new.mta.info/press-release/blue-ribbon-panel-unveils-multi-layered-plan-cutting-edge-tech-reduce-fare-and-toll