MTA considers hiring psychologist to cease fare evaders – NBC New York

The MTA needs to take a brand new method to curbing fare evasion and quite a few failed makes an attempt.

This time, as a substitute of putting in devices to cease fare beaters, they’re contemplating hiring a psychologist to get into their minds in hopes of “shrinking” the costly drawback.

The MTA web site is now promoting an RFP — that’s request for proposal — for a “behaviorist” who can dig into the societal traits behind an epidemic of non-payment.

MTA executives have mentioned they’re in a excessive stakes battle. Whereas solely 13.6% of subway riders are fare evaders, practically half of all bus passengers skip paying. All of it provides as much as a staggering projected lack of $700 million this yr.

“We have now to win or else the system is gone,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber warned at a latest board assembly.

Some riders had been skeptical of the psychological method. 

“I imply, if the conduct analyst can provide you with an answer, I don’t assume it’s gonna change the way in which folks assume,” mentioned Sheila Sessums, a Bronx resident ready for an uptown M102 bus in Manhattan. 

The MTA’s software for an knowledgeable seeks somebody who can conduct analysis on the motivations and devise behavioral interventions to cease fare evasion.

The MTA is barely eager about the thought. With the potential of paying the advisor between half-a-million and $1 million over a six-month interval. 

“The MTA is advancing a holistic method to handle fare evasion that the blue ribbon panel really useful in 2023, together with efforts to bolster the significance of paying your fare and making it simpler for patrons to pay,” an MTA spokesperson instructed Information 4.

However the transit union mentioned making buses free could be a greater route than fixing rider psychology. 

“I don’t know the way that’s gonna assist an individual who can’t pay the fare — telling them to really feel good after which telling them get off the bus isn’t gonna actually assist,” JP Patafio, of the Transport Employees Native 100, mentioned Friday.

Transit officers offered the board with evaluation on why folks evade the fare, and so they’re already addressing a recognized weak point: closing open subway gates which have led to what the MTA chairman calls crime of alternative.

The MTA has supplied no timeline of when or in the event that they’ll transfer ahead on the plan.