Comments on: Along the B division, a cheaper countdown clock http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/ A New York City Subway Blog Sat, 26 May 2012 04:42:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-204522 Brian Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:20:22 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-204522 After they install countdown clocks, the next step is to make this data publicly available via an API. This way developers like me (check out Roadify) can use it to distribute these real-time ETAs on mobile devices. Because its nice to walk down to the station and see it's not coming for 20 min before I swipe my card. But I'd like to know the ETA before I leave work/bar to minimize the wait in a hot subway station. Ya know?? After they install countdown clocks, the next step is to make this data publicly available via an API. This way developers like me (check out Roadify) can use it to distribute these real-time ETAs on mobile devices.

Because its nice to walk down to the station and see it’s not coming for 20 min before I swipe my card. But I’d like to know the ETA before I leave work/bar to minimize the wait in a hot subway station. Ya know??

]]> By: What We’re Thankful For in 2010 | Mobilizing the Region http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-116481 What We’re Thankful For in 2010 | Mobilizing the Region Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:54:08 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-116481 [...] signs of cultural change: Yesteryear’s technologically clueless MTA would never have embraced on-the-cheap subway countdown clocks and cashless tolls, or opened up transit data to developers, as it has [...] [...] signs of cultural change: Yesteryear’s technologically clueless MTA would never have embraced on-the-cheap subway countdown clocks and cashless tolls, or opened up transit data to developers, as it has [...]

]]> By: The subway announcements that come from Maine :: Second Ave. Sagas http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-112577 The subway announcements that come from Maine :: Second Ave. Sagas Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:28:57 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-112577 [...] MTA produced the video atop this post back in February when the authority unveiled the cheaper (and less precise) countdown clock for the B Division. Featured at numerous times is a woman’s voice. She speaks clearly and precisely with diction [...] [...] MTA produced the video atop this post back in February when the authority unveiled the cheaper (and less precise) countdown clock for the B Division. Featured at numerous times is a woman’s voice. She speaks clearly and precisely with diction [...]

]]> By: Proposing a DIY countdown clock system :: Second Ave. Sagas http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-109004 Proposing a DIY countdown clock system :: Second Ave. Sagas Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:14:54 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-109004 [...] covers just 152 subway stations and leaves over 300 without the technology. The MTA has tried a lower cost effort at bringing train announcements to the B Division, but this other system does not come with the [...] [...] covers just 152 subway stations and leaves over 300 without the technology. The MTA has tried a lower cost effort at bringing train announcements to the B Division, but this other system does not come with the [...]

]]> By: Leveraging the MTA’s focus on real-time train information :: Second Ave. Sagas http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-100692 Leveraging the MTA’s focus on real-time train information :: Second Ave. Sagas Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:51:40 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-100692 [...] PA recording filtered through the loud speaker. It seemed as though Transit was prepping the B Division countdown system for wider system [...] [...] PA recording filtered through the loud speaker. It seemed as though Transit was prepping the B Division countdown system for wider system [...]

]]> By: At Coney Island, a new sign for the next train :: Second Ave. Sagas http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-80573 At Coney Island, a new sign for the next train :: Second Ave. Sagas Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:01:32 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-80573 [...] continues along the A Division stops, New York City Transit is continuing its attempts at a low-cost solution for a few key B Division stations. The latest to enjoy this new-to-New York technology is the popular Stillwell Ave. terminal at [...] [...] continues along the A Division stops, New York City Transit is continuing its attempts at a low-cost solution for a few key B Division stations. The latest to enjoy this new-to-New York technology is the popular Stillwell Ave. terminal at [...]

]]> By: Andrew http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-72583 Andrew Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:10:12 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-72583 Those small red annunciators go back decades, and are in use all over the system. But, indeed, this is based on the same exact technology. Those small red annunciators go back decades, and are in use all over the system. But, indeed, this is based on the same exact technology.

]]> By: pete http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-72565 pete Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:34:34 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-72565 This technology has been trialed in the 1990s. Some stations on the Queens Blvd line have red 1 line displays (not the more modern multi color multi line displays) at mezzanine level that say that A train is coming. This technology has been trialed in the 1990s. Some stations on the Queens Blvd line have red 1 line displays (not the more modern multi color multi line displays) at mezzanine level that say that A train is coming.

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-72529 Benjamin Kabak Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:12:32 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-72529 No one is saying $6 million per station. It would be $6 million, prorated from $200,000 for six stations, to all of the B division stations. But that's only if the costs scale perfectly which they probably don't. No one is saying $6 million per station. It would be $6 million, prorated from $200,000 for six stations, to all of the B division stations. But that’s only if the costs scale perfectly which they probably don’t.

]]> By: AlexB http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/17/along-the-b-division-a-cheaper-countdown-clock/#comment-72527 AlexB Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:02:52 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5110#comment-72527 If it costs $6 million per station and needs to be installed on 300 stations to be complete, that's $1.8 billion for the whole system. It is debatable if it would be worth it for that price. We could have the stations at 41st and 10th ave easily for that cost, and money to spare. I wonder how much of that $1.8 billion effort could be re-used when the ATS is completely installed. If it costs $6 million per station and needs to be installed on 300 stations to be complete, that’s $1.8 billion for the whole system. It is debatable if it would be worth it for that price. We could have the stations at 41st and 10th ave easily for that cost, and money to spare. I wonder how much of that $1.8 billion effort could be re-used when the ATS is completely installed.

]]>