Biz homing in on train time clocks

SUBWAY DELAYS are the key to this Brooklyn startup’s success.

The NYC Train Sign company in Bushwick makes countdown signs for stores and homes that resemble the city’s iconic subway clocks and rely on real-time commuter data.

Founder Timothy Woo, 30, came up with the idea for the company in March 2016 and completed the first prototype later that month.

His idea originated from a website that provides updates on whether the L train is running smoothly. Woo was also motivated by the realization the DeKalb Ave. subway stop near his home, like many stations at that point, didn’t have cell service or WiFi available underground.

Dara Denney, NYC Train Sign co-founder and chief marketing officer, said the company’s goal is not to “hate on the MTA.”

“Sure, the system needs to be fixed to improve the average New Yorker’s quality of life,” said Denney, 26. “NYC Train Sign was created to take back some of the control we lose while dealing with delays, stalled trains and trains that never come.” She said the unpredictability and faults in New York’s train service have boosted brand awareness and made people more familiar with the startup. About 15 stores in the city currently have one of the LED matrix signs on display, and hundreds more have been sold online since October, Woo said. Kristen North, owner of Pizza Party in Bushwick, said she put one of the signs in her restaurant/bar in August. “Customers might squeeze in another round because they can see that they have the time,” North said. “It’s a no-brainer.”

Massimiliano Bartoli, partner and manager at Houdini Kitchen Laboratory in nearby Ridgewood, Queens, said he thinks the signs are handy, especially in winter. “In cold weather, people wait until the last minute to go to the subway,” Bartoli said. “It’s a great idea. It’s like the cherry on the cake when you see it.”

The signs rely on the same real-time commuter data used in mobile apps, tracking updates for a majority of the lines in the city, including LIRR and PATH. The MTA has been regularly adding new lines to its publicly available data, and the 7 line is the only one still missing.