The New York City Subway Map as You've Never Seen It Before

Historical Context

1970s NYC faced financial challenges, rising crime rates, and declining subway ridership.
The old subway map was difficult for riders to use, prompting the need for a redesign.
In 1979, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (M.T.A.) initiated a redesign project.

Committee and Design Team: Led by John Tauranac with Michael Hertz and Associates.
Objective: Create an accessible geographical map for commuters and tourists.
Primary Designer: Nobuyuki Siraisi, a sculptor and painter.
Unique Methodology: Siraisi rode each train line with eyes closed to feel and sketch the path.
Psychological Insights: Arline Bronzaft's studies indicated dissatisfaction with straight lines.
Design Innovations:
- Hand-drawn paths for better representation.
- Color-coded train lines for verbal recognition.
- Natural colors used for geographic features (land, water, parks).
- Susan Shaw ensured above-ground navigation with accurate details (e.g., Central Park).

Geographical Distortion: Adjustments made for dense areas like Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.
Staten Island: Initially absent, fully integrated in 1998 to include the Staten Island Railway.
Typography: 1979 map introduced an eclectic mix of styles; over 20 font styles now used.
Trunk-Based System: Combined parallel lines (e.g., 4, 5, 6) into single trunks for simplicity.
Visual Elements:
- Black lines for underground connections.
- Reflected historical separations of BMT, IND, and IRT companies.

1998 Digitization: Introduced quirks like abrupt street lines and quickly drawn parks.
2010 Simplification: Rikers Island bridge removed to streamline the map.
Notable Landmarks: Only 10 buildings marked, including the New York Transit Museum.

The M.T.A. subway map has evolved over 40 years, adapting to the city's changing landscape.
Its design reflects the dynamic and eclectic nature of New York City.

Contributors: Michael Beswetherick, Scott Blumenthal, Emma G. Fitzsimmons, Jason Fujikuni, Aaron Krolik, Eden Weingart.

Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority