NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) -- The MTA is taking a more "holistic approach" to fare evasion, according to a MTA spokesperson.
In a proposal titled "Catalyzing Behavioral Change to Address Fare Evasion," the agency is looking for a consultant to create and implement strategies to decrease fare evasion, Bloomberg reported.
"The MTA is advancing a holistic approach to address fare evasion that the Blue-Ribbon Panel recommended in 2023, including tapping into the expertise of behavioral scientists to reinforce the importance of paying your fare and making it easier for customers to pay.”
The project may cost the agency up to $1 million, and the contract is expected to last six months. It will also identify different "personas" of fare evaders and develop at least three behavioral interventions for each type.
Up to 900,0000 commuters use the subway and local bus service without pay each day, according to the MTA. The agency reportedly lost $600 million in revenue in 2022 due to fare evasion.
Charline Charles is a digital journalist from Brooklyn who has covered local news along with culture and arts in the New York City area since 2019. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.
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