LOS ANGELES -- A multimillion-dollar plan to install gates at all subway stations and some light rail stations was unanimously approved Thursday by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority committee.

By installing gates, MTA officials expect to make up the $5.5 million the transit agency loses annually because of fare skippers.

The proposal calls for the MTA to spend $56.4 million on gates and station modifications and another $12.2 million on maintenance. Cubic Transportation Systems, which already supplies the agency with fare boxes at subway and light rail stations and on buses, would install gates at all Metro Red Line stations and select Blue, Gold and Green line stations.

The MTA is the only subway operator in the country that is barrier-free, according to agency officials.

A report released in October found that 5.5 percent of 30,000 passengers checked during an inspection by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and Metro security were not paying their fare when riding the MTA lines.

The agency currently spends $7 million on fare inspectors. The fine for riding an MTA line without a valid ticket is $250.

The Executive Management and Audit Committee unanimously approved the proposal. Members of the MTA's Operations Committee will review the proposal at their meeting later today, and the MTA Board of Directors is expected to vote on the measure next Thursday.