Fare evasion is down by more than 70 percent in the Metro stations that have been retrofitted with new, higher faregates, including Vienna, where there’s been a 74 percent decline, according to new data from Metro.
These new gates have L-shaped, polycarbonate door panels that extend over the faregates to reduce gaps between openings, and increase the barrier height from 28 to 55 inches in order to make it harder for people to jump over them without paying.
Metro first began rolling out the new gates in July. It plans to install the higher gates throughout the system over the next year, with the first 10 stations to be completed by fall.
Metro released preliminary data on Tuesday, August 22, that analyzes the rate of fare evasions occurring at the first six stations with these new gates: Fort Totten, Pentagon City, Bethesda, Vienna, Mount Vernon Square, and Addison Road.
In each of these stations, the number of passengers who did not tap a Metro card to enter decreased by at least 71 percent. At the Vienna station, where Metro installed new gates on August 11, fare evasion was down 74 percent. The station with the highest reported change was Mount Vernon Square, with an 84 percent reduction since the August 16 installation.
“After testing multiple prototypes and getting feedback from customers, the new faregate design is having its intended effect — reducing fare evasion,” said Randy Clarke, Metro’s general manager and chief executive officer. “It is critical for Metro to collect as much fare revenue as possible and keep the system safe so we have a transit system worthy of this great region.”
Most recently, new gates were installed at the Congress Heights station on August 22. Metro expects them to be installed at Federal Center SW, Wheaton, and Court House in Arlington by September.
Feature image of faregates at the Fort Totten Metro station, courtesy Metro
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