Back in February 2022 MTA chief accessibility officer Quemuel Arroyo announced the arrival of “wide-aisle” turnstiles that would be installed in NYC’s subway system. The first ones were officially unveiled in Jamaica, Queens in December 2023, and now 15 more are set to hit NYC’s subway system this year.
The new turnstiles replace the emergency exit gates at that end of the station, which was a major contributor to subway fare evasion.
Rather than straphangers having to push through a rolling turnstile entrance, the wider gates instead open from the middle out, making entry into the subway system not only easier for those in wheelchairs, but for those with bikes, strollers, and luggage as well.
The first wide-aisle turnstiles were introduced back in 2021, when MTA officials announced a $25 million budget to install the wider gates at 200+ stations over the course of the next few years.
And the MTA announced on May 22nd that it will expand the pilot, along with improved design features like higher paddles and more sophisticated sensors, to at least 15 stations in 2024.
The first 10 stations include:
- 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal (A, C, E)
- 125 St (2, 3)
- 149 St-3 Av (2, 5)
- Bowling Green (4, 5)
- Crown Heights-Utica Av (3, 4)
- Delancey St-Essex St (F, J, M, Z)
- E 180 St (2, 5)
- Flushing-Main St (7)
- Forest Hills-71 Av (E, F, M, R)
- Kingsbridge Rd (B, D)
The wide-aisle turnstiles are currently installed at Atlantic Av-Barclays Center, 34 St (A, C, E), Astoria Blvd (N, W), and Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue (E, J, Z). Since installing the modernized turnstiles fare payment has increased by 20% at these locations compared to 2023.
Other NYC subway renovations in the works include upgrades to these 13 dilapidated stations, firearm-detecting body scanners, bright LED lights, and conductor safety barriers.