MTA Unveils Subway Coronavirus PPE Vending Machines

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — New PPE vending machines will give subway passengers more defenses against the coronavirus — and fewer excuses to ride without a mask.

MTA announced Tuesday it will install 12 mask-, glove- and sanitizer-dispensing vending machines at 10 different subway stations.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for customers who may not have masks to get them so they can ride the subway," said Sarah Feinberg, interim MTA president, in a statement. "Wearing a mask is the single most important thing our customers can do to protect themselves and those around them – and more than that, it’s absolutely required to ride the system."

The machines are part of a pilot program, a release states. Eight of them will be installed by Canteen, a food services company, while the remainder branded as "Simply" will be stocked by Swyft vending machines, the release states.

They'll let customers buy reusable face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, the release states. MTA also will pass out single-use surgical masks and offer hand sanitizer at every station.

The vending machines will be found at the following stations:

• 14 St-Union Square
• 34 St-Herald Square (two machines)
• 34 St-Penn Station - 1, 2, 3 lines
• 34 St-Penn Station - A, C, E lines
• 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal - A, C, E lines
• 42 St-Times Square (two machines)
• 59 St-Columbus Circle
• 74 St-Roosevelt Av
• Atlantic Av-Barclays Center
• Lexington Av - E and M lines