February 13, 2026 NEW YORK, NY The MTA’s war on fare evasion is hitting a painful snag, and the agency’s top boss is losing his patience with the critics.

As viral videos circulate showing commuters—and in one harrowing case, a five-year-old girl—getting caught in the snapping jaws of New York City’s new high-tech fare barriers, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber is firing back. He insists that while the agency is "learning," New Yorkers are absolutely not being treated like lab rats.

"Not Guinea Pigs": The MTA Claps Back

During a heated press conference on February 12, Lieber took visible umbrage at the suggestion that the public is being used as "guinea pigs" for unproven technology. The controversy stems from a pilot program currently testing "saloon-style" glass doors across 13 stations, designed to replace the easily-jumped turnstiles of old.

The pushback follows a string of "incidents" that have New Yorkers on edge:

• The Broadway-Lafayette Horror: A 5-year-old girl was hospitalized last month after her head was trapped by a gate designed by the company Conduent.

• The 23rd Street "Trap": Reports of riders being struck or caught by swinging metal-framed glass doors manufactured by Korean firm STraffic.

• Viral Bloopers: Numerous social media videos show limbs and bags being pinched as the sensors struggle to time the "swing-shut" motion correctly.

“The idea that the riders are guinea pigs, that’s not fair,” Lieber told reporters, noting that similar systems are already in use in major cities worldwide.

A $1.1 Billion Gamble

The stakes for these gates are massive. The MTA has earmarked $1.1 billion in its capital plan to install these barriers at 150 stations by 2029. Currently, the agency is "speed-dating" three different private tech companies to see which gate can best stop fare beaters without ending up on the evening news for the wrong reasons.

What the MTA is changing right now:

• Sensor Calibration: Adjusting how quickly the doors snap shut.

• Closing Force: Limiting "how much" the gates close to prevent crushing.

• Education: Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara is rolling out instructional videos and better signage to teach New Yorkers how to walk through a door.

The Learning Curve

Despite the rocky start, the MTA claims "incidents" have dropped significantly since the pilot launched late last year. Over one million commuters have successfully navigated the gates, but for the few who have been caught in the crosshairs, the "adjustment period" feels a lot more like a safety hazard.

Once the pilot concludes, the MTA will crown one of the three companies the winner, officially changing the face—and the "pinch points"—of the New York City subway system forever.