Subway Riders Test New Track Arrival System
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Thanks to a new pilot program by the MTA, subway riders at one Brooklyn station can now track the arrival of trains without peering down the tracks. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed the following report.For some riders on the L train, spotting the next train is no longer a matter of peering down the tracks, but rather looking up at new video screens which show riders the exact location of every train along the line.
"It's basically a virtual map of the L line. It lets you see in real time where the trains are," said Greg Lombardi, L Line General Manager.
"Never before have you seen the entire picture of the level of service that we're providing. And this provides it," said Wilson Milian, New York City Transit Director for Technology.
The screens were unveiled Thursday at the Myrtle-Wycoff station in Brooklyn, with transit managers on hand to explain the new technology to riders. The screens update every 15 seconds, and are split into two views -- one showing trains along the entire line, and another showing only nearby stations.
Transit officials say they will complement existing signs that count down the minutes to the next train's arrival.
"Even if you have a watch, counting down, you get a little anxious for the train. When you actually see something coming, and you see it coming down, and you can follow it, it's almost soothing to see it coming," said Lombardi.
In addition to the two screens on the platform level, there is also one outside the turnstiles, so riders can see how far away the train is before they swipe their MetroCard.
So far, rider response has been enthusiastic.
"I think it's great," said one straphanger.
"It's a positive. You know, it's positive thinking. And hopefully it works," said another straphanger.
With the MTA in financial crisis, some wondered if the screens are a wise use of scarce resources.
"If they're broke right now, and they're cutting service, I'm not sure they should put money into something like this," said one subway rider.
Transit officials though say the system is relatively cheap, a few thousand dollars per screen at most.
If the new technology proves to be a success, MTA officials say it could be expanded to other stations throughout the system.