New York Subway Delays
A sign at Grand Central Terminal in New York alters passengers to train delays on February 2, 2015. Reuters/Brendan McDermid

A picture might be worth a thousand words, but an emoji might make your commute easier.

WNYC News feels straphangers' pain. Starting today, the New York news radio station will be assigning emojis based on commuting "agony," such as subway delays and crowded trains. Subway lines and stations will be rated with symbols ranging from a smiley to a sobbing face.

The effort is part of a larger series the radio station calls "Data News Takes the Subway." The goal is to help New Yorkers avoid as much stress as possible during their daily commute.

Two caveats here. First, the effort is New York-centric, so anyone outside the NYC metro area need not apply. Second, it’s available only for select lines. Riders of the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, you’re in luck. Riders of the other 16 subway lines, you’ll have to wait for future updates. The system is relying on the MTA system for its updates, so the real-time emojis are dependent upon that.

Still, this seems like it could be a fun way to prepare for your commute -- as long as you read emoji, of course.