MTA launches pilot program to curb fare evasion at Penn Station

NEW YORK (PIX11) — The MTA has announced a new pilot program that involves checking tickets for passengers on the Long Island Rail Road prior to boarding.

The process, known as gating, was already implemented at stations, including Mets-Willets Point and Forest Hills, and will now be enacted at Penn Station.

Gating will dissuade the delayed activation of e-tickets or passengers boarding without a ticket, according to the MTA. Passengers will be expected to show their paper tickets or activated e-tickets to a railroad employee before boarding.

This isn’t the first time the LIRR has piloted gating programs at Penn Station.

During one of the MTA’s committee meetings , LIRR Acting President Rob Free discussed two other gating programs, including placing physical barriers at entrance points to the platform levels.

The gating programs allow the LIRR to determine the most effective and sustainable methods moving forward, according to President Free.

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.