NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The MTA will test out a new, wider subway turnstile design to improve access to the system.
MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo said the design will better help wheelchair users — but also anyone with luggage, grocery carts, strollers or other larger items.
“These wide-aisle fare gates are not just for people with disabilities,” Arroyo said at a board meeting Wednesday.
“The ultimate goal is to introduce wide-aisle fare gates to our New York City transit system like you have at the PATH, like you have at other systems,” he added.
Officials also hope more accommodating turnstiles will cut down on fare evasion by decreasing use of the emergency gates, where they say riders often slip through without paying.
The MTA will begin rolling the new turnstiles out at ADA-accessible stations. The first will be installed at five stations by next summer: Penn Station and Bowling Green in Manhattan; Sutphin Boulevard in the Bronx; and Flushing Avenue and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.
The agency has $25 million allocated to install them more broadly at more than 200 stations over the years, according to Arroyo.
In the meantime, the agency has installed tap-and-go payment options at 240 automatic emergency gates in the system for all riders needing wider access into the subway system.
“Any of you all, l if you need it, can tap or insert your MetroCard at those 200 locations,” Arroyo said.
The automatic gates were previously only available to riders with disabilities who have specific MetroCards — but are now open to all MetroCard and OMNY users.
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