Subway Countdown Clocks Proliferating

The subterranean countdown clocks that let commuters know how long they'll have to wait for the next train will be installed at over 150 stations next year. Currently in use only on the L line, the electronic marvels have long been familiar to subway riders in Washington and London. New MTA Czar Jay Walder says studies show that riders in London felt three-times worse waiting when they didn't know how long the delay would be, so get ready to feel thrice better, New York!

NYC Transit promises that the 1, 4 and 6 lines will be providing the real-time information by December 2010, but we're wondering if we can get a countdown clock for that deadline. And riders on the lettered lines won't be getting any countdowns until at least 2014. Gene Russianoff, a staff lawyer for the Straphangers Campaign, tells the Times, "This is what riders want." But Andrew Albert, chairman of the New York City Transit Riders Council, isn't so easily impressed: "It would be even more useful if they install a repeater on the street, so people can have time to get a cup of coffee or a newspaper."

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By John Del Signore in News on October 2, 2009 5:11 PM

Comments [rss]

dadoc

And please, after these multiple articles on the same damned subject, somebody explain to me how this concept moves people faster, more comfortably, more efficiently and at lower cost/passenger mile. I may be a bit dense on this, but I just don't get it.

dadoc

The clocks are useless at increasing thoughput in a busy system. Invest the money in infrastructure and the ability to carry more passengers on peak. Somebody's cousin has the clock concession, it won't last long and is a waste of money.

Blairy Blair

Practically every city has countdown clocks already. Even small towns like Portland, Oregon have had them since 2001. Chicago has had them for years. Tehran even has them.

Atomische

I only feel 2.27 times worse when I don't know how long the delay will be.

Could they spend the money on making the trains more frequent?

aspiringrapper

2014? How many years are we already behind other major metropolitan areas for the development of public transit?

Sir Bonkers

They just thought of this now? Bloody geniuses.

nurserachet

I totally agree they should be outside. It doesn't make me feel better to know when the train is coming. I live on the L and we've had this for a while now. It's fucking annoying to get in there and see that you had ten minutes.

I doubt there would be a serious problem with people hauling ass down the stairs like mentioned above. Even if there was, the outside sign could change to show the next train when it's under 3 minutes or something.

bklynbagel

by 2014 the fare will be $5.. start riding bikes, folks

silver

Oh yeah, I say $6 by 2014. NLRB in Washington says governments can't cry poverty in denying raises to union employees, NLRB says governments have infinite revenue (taxpayers), so not giving raises is "unconscionable".

longacre

I would prefer the MTA spent that money ensuring chunks of tunnel don't continue to rain down onto trains, or that elevated tracks are prevented from crumbling.

tshirt

yes! more steely dan references!

Son of Spam

But Andrew Albert, chairman of the New York City Transit Riders Council, isn't so easily impressed: "It would be even more useful if they install a repeater on the street, so people can have time to get a cup of coffee or a newspaper."

Does Mr. Albert have a plan for funding the legal defense stockpile needed for the increased lawsuits from people falling down subway stairs trying to run for a train that the sign in the street says is

Son of Spam

damn html tags

...sign in the street says is less than 1 minute away?

jibbly

So A,B,C,D,E,F,G,J,M,N,Q,R,V riders can suck it until at least 2014? Sweet.

Alex

The good thing about the 6 train is the screens for the clocks are installed on a ton of stations in Manhattan already, so hopefully it'll come much sooner than December of next year.