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Joshua Crandall, a tech-savvy Montclair resident, had an epiphany standing on the Watchung Avenue station platform: commuters weren’t helping each other, even though they all shared the same frustrations.
That moment inspired Clever Commute, a community-driven email alert system for train riders.
"The zen of Clever Commute was to only report something when there was a problem," Crandall explained. "No questions, nothing if things were normal."
Back then, train delays or disruptions were a mystery until they hit. There were no apps or transit notifications, and Crandall sought to fill that void.
For example, a user might email: "I'm on a train and it's stalled in Newark." That information would be pushed out to Clever Commute subscribers, creating a real-time, crowd-sourced alert system.
FROM EMAILS TO THE APP
As technology evolved, so did Clever Commute. When NJ Transit made its data available to developers, Crandall transformed the service into a robust app catering to commuters on NJ Transit, LIRR, and MTA.
Now, Clever Commute blends official transit data with crowd-sourced reports, offering features like real-time alerts, simplified data, and stress-reducing insights. One standout feature is its track predictor, which uses historical data to guess which track Penn Station trains will depart from—saving commuters from the chaotic last-minute scramble.
“The idea came to me long before it was technically feasible,” Crandall said. As a technologist, he saw potential in NJ Transit's data. "I don’t think they intended for me—or anyone—to build a track predictor, but that’s what I did."
Clever Commute has seen challenges, including a time when NJ Transit blocked access to certain data Crandall used for the track predictor, as reported by the Wall Street Journal in a report called Edge Is Lost in Commuter Platform Race. But Crandall persevered.
"It's accurate enough that people are happy," he said. "No one has left because of accuracy."
VIRAL SUCCESS AND A NEW GENERATION OF USERS
Clever Commute recently gained a surge in popularity thanks to a TikTok video by the New York Post. The clip shows Crandall successfully predicting a Penn Station train track, wowing fellow commuters.
Crandall acknowledges that Clever Commute’s core audience has traditionally been affluent, male homeowners with advanced degrees—many of whom are now retiring.
To reach a younger, more diverse demographic, Crandall is focusing on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
This Instagram video, for example, shows Crandall explaining how to beat the crowds in Penn Station using the app. Here, Crandall considers the 9:35 p.m. train that night to Secaucus, whose track had not been announced as of 9:09 p.m.
In the Clever Commute app, the in-app departure board showed the prediction: Track 3, along with a track history and summary table (if you need the evidence).
Crandall was right (his video flashes to an empty train, as the crowds were still waiting up in the pit). Crandall recommends checking with the train conductor to be certain you're on the right train.
LOOKING AHEAD
For Crandall, the mission of Clever Commute is clear: to do what transit agencies can’t, won’t, or don’t do.
“I can’t compete with NJ Transit or LIRR, but I can take what they share and make it better. I do the things they don’t do,” Crandall said.
The app remains a lifeline for daily commuters who value its unique features and community-driven approach, Crandall says.
“If you’re a commuter, you love it. If you go into the city once a quarter, it’s not for you,” Crandall added. “But for those who use it, they get it. They love it.”
Even after two decades, Crandall remains inspired by the loyalty of his users. “Day ones are still here,” he said. “Every night, I look at the roster of who’s using it, and I love seeing the OGs.”
With fresh ideas and a renewed sense of purpose following the app’s viral moment, Crandall is determined to keep Clever Commute on track, evolving to meet the needs of a new generation of commuters.
To download Crandall's app, search for "Clever Commute" in the Google Play and App stores.
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