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MTA to introduce more countdown clocks in subway stations

Great example of the need for Talking to People.

talesfromthemta:

The MTA recently announced that they would be installing countdown clocks in subway stations to inform passengers as to the ETA for the next train.

I thought this was a pretty good idea until I read someone’s submission to the NY Daily News’ “Voice of the People” section and it went a little something like this…

“The MTA’s plan to put countdown clocks in the subways just shows that the agency is still run by people who never ride the rails. At a cost of a million dollars, you will now be able to know your train is running later - or not at all - AFTER you have paid your fare and descended two, three, or four flights underground. What is needed is a STREET LEVL clock so riders can determine whether they want to take the train or use some other method of transportation, before paying their fare of $2.25.”

I totally agree with this person — if I got to the station and saw that my train was going to take 10 minutes to arrive but another line in another part of the station was going to arrive sooner, I would be more inclined to take that one. Or if I was informed that the train wasnt coming at all, I’d probably just take a cab.

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