Second Ave. Sagas

Video of the Day: Countdown clocks going up

Written by

Benjamin Kabak

in

The MTA, via its official YouTube channel, posted the above video this afternoon. As the countdown clock rollout along the A Division nears its mid-2011 completion, the authority has installed nearly 100 clocks since October 2009. Considering how long it took to get the PA/CIS pilot from the L train to the IRT line, the rate of installation has increased markedly recently.

I’ve always been a big supporter of the countdown clocks because they eliminate a source of frustration. Instead of peering endlessly into dark tunnels while checking our watches every five minutes, straphangers waiting for their trains can rest peacefully knowing that the clock is accurate and that the train will soon be arriving. It takes the surprise of waiting, and it eliminates the fear of a delayed commute. It’s more comforting to know that you’re going to be on time. While staring into a tunnel is a time-honored New York City subway tradition, it’s one we’re not going to miss.

The video isn’t anything spectacular. Mostly, it tells us what we already know. But I appreciate the time-lapse photography of a work crew setting up a new countdown clock. Hopefully, technological innovation underground will continue for the foreseeable future.

Comments

11 responses to “Video of the Day: Countdown clocks going up”

  1. Chris G

    I was honestly amazed at how many different workers were needed to install this.

    Reply
    1. Benjamin Kabak

      There’s gotta be a good joke in there somewhere.

      How many MTA workers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

      Reply
      1. Kid Twist

        Never mind, I’ll sit in the dark?

        Reply
        1. SEAN

          3?

          1 inserts the bulb & 2 turn the latter.

          Reply
      2. shimran

        Three- two to screw in the first two bulbs which won’t work at all.

        Reply
  2. E. Aron

    Bold prediction – we’ll still peer into the tunnels.

    Reply
    1. Eric

      Yes, we will, at least until the countdown clocks earn our trust.

      For example: last Saturday I was waiting for a Brooklyn-bound L at 6th Avenue. The countdown clock said something like the next train was in 28 minutes but it came in about 13.

      Reply
  3. Frank

    This is weird. Not that it isn’t still helpful, but why are some of the signs saying how many stations the train is away, instead of how many minutes is will be until the train arrives? I’m sure those are the signs running off the old signaling system, but why isn’t that information being put into that algorithm to estimate the amount of time until the next train, like the trains along the IND 8th Avenue Line? 2 stations away helps me, but I rather know an actual estimate of the time.

    Reply
    1. Seth R

      Those time estimates are likely the result of a very sophisticated algorithm on a very large and long running data set, probably the exact same information that the MTA will eventually be relying on to monitor and run the trains.

      Since all that’s available to the B division stations is the signal information, a time estimate would be unreliable and would be unlikely to improve with time (as more data could be accrued).

      Reply
    2. chris

      the system is not like the one on the IRT the IRT is way better than the one on the ABCD it uses ATS with follows the train and knows what is it and where its going, the one on the IND uses the old way of tracking the train using old tech it cant tell you what train it is or where its going and not min countdown like the irt

      Reply
  4. Murray

    IMHO, the MAIN reason for these clocks is to help people make decisions, not to make people feel better about when the next train is coming. Should I take the local or wait for the express? Well, if the express is only 2 minutes away, I’ll wait, but if it’s 10 minutes away, I’ll take the local. Should I even go into the subway? If the next train is 20 minutes away, maybe I’ll take a cab. Maybe someday I’ll know about the bus as well as the subway, and take the next one coming. At stations with different platforms for similar trains (e.g. West 4th Street going uptown), which platform will the next express train arrive at – D or A? Why is the MTA not (a) marketing this advantage (b) prioritizing installation at stations where people have a choice (c) putting this information on the street (perhaps those obnoxious led advertising signs)?

    Also, who cares about the seventh train coming? All people care about is the next train of each type, and MAYBE the next train if this one is jam-packed. Do the people who programmed this even take the subway?

    Reply

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