The MTA on Wednesday unveiled a brand new “simply readable” New York Metropolis subway map for the primary time in practically 50 years — however straphangers knocked the redesigned graphic as a “difficult” mind teaser and a “waste of cash” by the embattled company.
The revamped design changed Michael Hertz’s well-known spaghetti diagram launched in 1979 with a brand new map that includes shiny, daring strains towards a white backdrop that identifies every subway route within the Huge Apple, with markings specifying free out-of-station switch hubs and accessible stations.
The brand new format additionally modifications the outlines of the boroughs into graphic shapes as a substitute of utilizing their topographically correct borders seen on the outdated model.
“The brand new MTA is concentrated on a high quality, twenty first century buyer expertise, and it’s about time our map caught up,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber stated in a press release.
“The brand new model is way simpler to learn whereas additionally reflecting all of the enhancements we’ve made over time.”
Scores of straphangers throughout town didn’t notice there was a brand new diagram till The Put up instructed them, and scorn was swift.
“I would favor to see extra working elevators or much less homeless on the trains, and even carry a few of these newer trains to all of the strains,” Allison Graham, 40, stated on the Astoria-Ditmars N station in Queens.
“The map replace may’ve waited. There are different issues that should be prioritized.”
Michelle, one other rider on the station, snarked that the redesign was “very nice … for those who’re a vacationer. I don’t hate it however I in all probability received’t ever have a look at it once more.”
Bronx resident A.J., who was speeding to catch his practice on Canal Avenue in Manhattan, echoed her sentiment.
“Looks as if a waste of cash. It’s not even for New Yorkers, New Yorkers don’t want that,” he stated.
“I hope this isn’t why they’re elevating the fare once more. Is that this the place it goes?” rider David R., 45, questioned on the Broadway station in Astoria.
The most recent format is harking back to Massimo Vignelli’s short-lived 1972 metro map, which was retired after solely seven years following issues that it was obscure and didn’t replicate the street-level geography of town.
“It’s at all times humorous that the MTA has been desperately making an attempt to implement this precise map for like 50 years and no one has ever appreciated it,” one X person commented on the newly unveiled design.
Straphangers aware of Hertz’s long-standing road grid slammed the reconfigured map, complaining that the up to date design is geographically complicated and makes subway transfers harder to decipher.
“Oh pricey! That’s rather more difficult than it wanted to be!” one particular person commented on X. “Taking a look at the advantages of different metro/subway maps the world over would have been useful.”
“Town seems distorted. This isn’t an enchancment,” one other replied to the brand new map.
A 3rd particular person stated the brand new graphic appeared like a “online game” display screen.
Many commenters questioned the price behind the MTA’s newest transfer — which the company hasn’t disclosed — and referred to as for the restoration of the outdated map, which transit officers stated would stay out there on-line.
“This map sucks,” one other X person stated. “It makes use of means an excessive amount of house for strains as a substitute of constructing use of the redundancy of strains on shared tracks. This results in loopy distortion of distances above floor.”
The brand new format, designed by the MTA’s Inventive Companies Mapping Division, additionally options close by Amtrak, Metro North, Lengthy Island Rail Highway and PATH system routes.
The map will probably be added to each practice automotive and rail station within the coming weeks and months.
“This map rollout is using the devoted house in each subway automotive and the hundreds of digital screens within the transit system to supply prospects with detailed and up-to-date service info,” stated MTA Chief Buyer Officer Shanifah Rieara.
“I need to thank our prospects for his or her enter and the inventive crew for his or her years of labor to replace this iconic piece of the New York Metropolis Subway system.”
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