Photo Courtesy of New York City Transit
There are countdown clocks at 326 of the system’s 472 stations.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Countdown clocks arrived last Friday at all stations on the M and W subway lines, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
With the addition of the M and W lines, there will be countdown clocks at 326 of the system’s 472 stations. The clocks will be installed at all lettered line stations by the end of this year, MTA New York City Transit announced last week.
“We continue to make great progress to bring real-time train arrival information to all stations,” said MTA Chairman Joe Lhota. “It is a vital part of our aggressive and immediate efforts to improve the customer experience through increased reliability and capacity, enhanced stations and safety, and clear and accurate communication.”
According to the agency, the accelerated effort to bring real-time train arrival information to the rest of the system is part of its Subway Action Plan to stabilize and improve the system and lay the foundation for modernizing the New York City Subway. A key component of the Action Plan calls for improved customer communications and providing train arrival information system-wide allows customers to be kept fully informed of regular service, delays or emergency situations, should they arise, MTA officials noted.
“Our Subway Action Plan puts our customers first by expediting improvements in the system that improve how we provide information to our customers and overall reliability,” said MTA Managing Director Ronnie Hakim.
Lhota unveiled the two-phase Subway Action Plan in July. Phase One, according to the MTA chairman, will attack the key drivers of the major incidents causing delays in the system, including signals, track and power issues, as well as water-related damage and corrosion, track fires, car breakdowns, police activity and station issues. Phase Two focuses on modernizing the system by addressing long-term, system-wide improvements, including better subway cars, the adoption of a new signal system and modern communications technology to facilitate new signaling and enable customer benefits.
