Six Brooklyn subway stations are set to receive new touch-free fare gates as the MTA expands a citywide effort to reduce fare evasion and improve accessibility.
The stations selected for the next phase are 36 St, Bedford Avenue, Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue, Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets, Myrtle Avenue and Newkirk Plaza. The upgrades are expected to begin by the end of 2026, with preparation work scheduled to start in October.
The Brooklyn locations are part of a 20-station expansion spanning four boroughs. The project falls under the MTA’s $1.1 billion investment to modernize fare-control areas at 150 stations through its 2025-2029 capital plan.
“These touch-free fare gates represent a leap forward in making our transit system more welcoming for everyone, especially riders like me who use a mobility device, those pushing strollers, or carrying luggage,” said Quemuel Arroyo, MTA chief accessibility officer.
The changes could make entering the subway easier for Brooklyn residents who use wheelchairs, travel with strollers or carry luggage. Traditional three-wheel turnstiles can restrict access for passengers who need additional space. The wider gates are designed to improve passenger flow while making it more difficult to enter without paying.
The expansion follows a pilot program at 20 stations that recorded an average 35 percent reduction in fare evasion, according to the MTA. Hoyt Street and Nostrand Avenue, both in Brooklyn, recorded 72 percent declines.
Those results provide an early measure of the gates’ effectiveness, although they do not guarantee the same reductions at every station receiving the new equipment.
The next phase will replace fare gates across all entrances at the selected stations. The MTA plans to extend the program to 50 additional stations, with a second phase involving 30 stations expected to be under construction by the end of 2027.
For Brooklyn commuters, the rollout will bring changes to busy subway entrances used for daily travel across the borough and beyond.
