Freeloaders, Beware: L.A. Now Has Subway Turnstiles
Freeloading subway riders may soon be handing over dough to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. That’s because this summer, Metro is trying out shiny new turnstiles and protective gates along the Red and Purple subway lines that serve the dense neighborhoods of Hollywood, Koreatown, and Downtown LA.
L.A.‘s Hollywood Metro Station. Image by bottlerocketvaseline via Flickr.
Initially considered too costly to install given projected ridership numbers, subway turnstiles are absent from Los Angeles subway stations. In fact, LA Metro is the only major transit agency in the U.S. that doesn’t use subway turnstiles and security gates. This means that riders can, and do, waltz through stations without paying, undeterred by intermittent ticket checks and fines that run up to $250. As it turns out, more and more Angelenos are using the subway and those unpaid train tickets are adding up. Metro estimates that fare-evaders cost the system $5 million a year in lost revenue.
In November 2007, Metro board members voted 11-1 to toughen up security by installing 379 turnstiles in subway stations, and this summer they are taking the steps to make it happen. Union Station, the transit hub of Los Angeles, and Wilshire-Normandie are the first two station areas to try out the new turnstiles; more will be installed at the Pershing Square and MacArthur Park stations throughout August. If the system seems to work by the end of September, Metro will go ahead with its $46 million plan to install hundreds of new turnstiles and security fences throughout LA.
The expected benefits of turnstiles are twofold: a reduction in numbers of ticket-dodgers and improvements in security. In fact, the California Governor’s Office of Homeland Security is helping to pay for the turnstiles with a $16 million grant to reduce the threat of terrorism.
The turnstiles still need to be fine-tuned. They only accept monthly passes, not single-ride tickets. Riders will have to show these to a Metro official standing next to the turnstiles until compatible single-ride tickets are introduced. Also, installing security gates at select stations rather than all at once county-wide means that there will be gaps in the system where non-paying riders can enter.
The subway turnstiles signify an important shift in the way Angelenos travel and indicate a growing emphasis by state, county, and local agencies on transit. In a region known for its car-dependent populations and highway-gridlock, people are turning to alternative forms of transportation to get them from point A to B. And by making patrons pay to enter the subway, LA Metro is getting serious about developing the County’s transit infrastructure.
Rob in Cleveland, OH on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 11:46am
LA is certainly not the only rail system that uses proof of payment. I guess the question is: what gives a city the distinction of having a “major transit agency”?
namhenderson on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 8:18pm
I would say they appear to be getting more serious about filling budget holes.
Jef Nickerson in Providence on Fri, Sep 04, 2009 at 3:02pm
$46 million worth of turnstiles to account for $5 million of lost revenue means almost a decade before they see a return on investment and that is before maintenance costs, the cost to pay the ticket collector to stand and accept the single ride tickets, and other associated costs. Los Angeles could have provided for experimentation with free transit, instead they will be burning through more and more resources to collect fares, the cost of which won’t be put toward service.
Madam_S in LA/Pasadena on Tue, Sep 08, 2009 at 10:08am
This is a huge waste of money. First, the turnstiles will not stop fare dodgers, as even Metro rated them ZERO in that category. Anyone can jump over it, or just waltz through the handicap lane (no barrier there), and LA stations have no attendants, so no one is watching the gates. Second, the costs for maintenance, or more expensive single-ride tickets (ones that gate machines can read). Even if we could stop ALL fare cheaters, it would take more than 10 years just to pay for the $46 million installation cost (by the way, anyone want to bet it won’t cost more?). And the gates won’t even be installed at all stations. Third, the $5 million loss figure is not accurate, as it assumes everyone uses a single-ride ticket, when most riders use a pass. Metro’s reported figures in the past show average fare is about half what they say in this case. Fourth, how are turnstiles supposed to stop terrorists, please? Metro rated these turnstiles ZERO in security effectiveness. This article is just a broadcast of Metro’s press release. For anyone interested in the rest of the story, see here: http://www.thetransitcoalition.us/largepdffiles/TC-Metro-2008-01-31-01a-FaregatingAnalysisReport-RichardStanger.pdf
Please, journalists, do some research.
Ken Ruben on Tue, Sep 08, 2009 at 5:20pm
I use the Senior EZ Pass (paper) which is not yet availabe on TAP through Metro (yes, I have a reduced fare TAP card with my photo).
—-“Ken” Ruben—-
Interurbans in Long Beach on Wed, Sep 09, 2009 at 12:58am
Now with the implementation of gates that will now reduce safety, security and cost far more than having fare inspectors and Shaffer’s checking for fare dodgers. Venders, vandals, vagrants, panhandlers and bad guys pay the minimum fare and will have full access to the system and with out attendants or anyone on the trains safety will decrease and fare evasion will increase. This is not New York or other larger cities that have a large system with a large ridership where there are too many riders on trains for bad guys to do bad things. This will also decrease ridership since many riders will now feel unsafe on trains especially at night knowing that there will be no Metro officers or police prescience to discourage the bad guys.
This is not good and until there are safety personal on the trains safety and security will be non excitant and all of this to give CUBIC a multimillion dollar contract. The gates will only cost more and provide less. Thanks again LACMTA board.
Walter in CT on Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 6:19pm
Wow, I didn’t know how Los Angelinos felt about subway turnstiles. Adding turnstiles years after opening just doesn’t seem to make any sense to me; the Metro should have had them to begin with.
But just remember that the New York City Subway has had turnstiles since 1904, and has had great success in keeping the system safe and efficient. The tokens and token turnstiles even lasted about 50 years at most stations before being replaced with the Metrocard, so hopefully LACMTA will see a net positive from their choice.