MTA Intensifies Efforts to Combat Fare Evasion on Buses

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will begin cracking down on fare evasion on city buses in September after reporting $315 million in losses last year. Unarmed fare enforcement agents have been deployed to local bus services to address the issue. Fare evasion on buses accounted for nearly half of the estimated $700 million lost to non-payment in 2022. The MTA plans to focus on routes near high-risk areas and will first issue warnings and provide information about reduced fare options before issuing summonses. The agency also intends to tighten subway turnstiles and redesign entry barriers to deter fare evasion.