Tuesday's subway attack in New York City left many Americans asking the simple questions: How could this happen? And why are there no metal detectors?
In 2018, the New York Police Department tested a pilot program using metal detectors at one of the busiest stations in Times Square.
However, it wasn't effective because of long wait times and the overall costs.
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New York City has 472 subways stations. So, what would it cost to add metal detectors?
Each metal detecting machine costs about $2,200, and the city would need four turnstiles per station.
That adds up to $8,800. Multiply that by the number of stations in New York City, the total would be nearly $4.2 million, and this doesn't include personnel.
The truth is, New York City doesn't have a way to pay for it.
Increasing the subway fare wouldn't help. Rides cost $2.75, which goes toward New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority deficit — predicted to be $1.4 billion in 2025.
