Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Are Subway Riders Down with Countdown Clocks?
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 8, 2010
Modified Mar 8, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 8, 2010
Modified Mar 8, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MTA Czar Jay Walder believes subway countdown clocks will take some of the "angst" out of commuting. But a recent survey suggests many straphangers are still aggravated, clocks be damned. At 145th Street, jazz singer Nerissa Campbell tells the Times she felt disillusioned after the A train did not arrive when the clock promised. "It lied!" she said, laughing. "They shouldn’t spend money if they’re not going to get it quite right." (Cost: almost $400 million.) Another commuter, student Bianca Ansari, declares, "It doesn’t change the way I commute... As a New Yorker, you know that nothing works." Which reminds us! NYC Transit tweeted this morning: "If a subway clock is an hour off, its not broken. Our ad vendor is changing time in preparation for Daylight Savings Time."
Tagged
countdown clocks
subway
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .