Genius!

Surface Navigation Help for Subway Riders

Now the city is experimenting with a new way to help people go where they want to go without wasting more steps than they have to. The city and the private business improvement district for the neighborhood around Grand Central Terminal have installed compass-shaped decals on sidewalks, right where riders emerge from heavily used subway stairwells.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/nyregion/17direction.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Legit one of my biggest problems solved! This will save so much time.... since I'm always that girl who walks a block and realizes she went west when she wanted to go east.