NYC Subway Map Gets a Makeover: More Manhattan, Fewer Lines
After decades of confusion from tourists and natives alike over the New York City subway system, the Metropolitan Transport Authority is finally overhauling the out-of-date system. Changes to current lines and maps will simplify the system, allowing customers to more easily understand the system.
At the end of June, the changeover to the new system will become official. Gone are the V and W lines, replaced by a rerouted M line. Some lines, like the Q have been extended. The Q will now terminate in Queens instead of Manhattan. All of these changes are noted on a new map. Similar to the old map in most respects, the new map has Manhattan enlarged by 30% to allow more detail in the spiderweb of lines. Where does that extra space come from? Poor Staten Island which will find its place on the map a bit smaller. {Gawker} In addition, superfluous information has been eliminated from the map in order to provide a clearer picture of the system. New information will be added to denote crucial information, like which stops are handicap accessible from street level.
While the makeover will be beneficial for the majority of users, the city will spend nearly $800,000. With the renovation of lines, about 3,000 signs must be replaced and decals switched out. “A small vinyl M decal, newly orange, may cost the agency about $25 to produce.” {NY Times} Larger, porcelain signs run about $300 a pop. In addition, porcelain signs will not be installed until later due to production length, so temporary aluminum signs will be placed instead.
The MTA is planning to most of the switch out the weekend before June 28th, the Monday that everything is due to be revealed. Most major Manhattan stations will not see signs changed until a few hours before the big reveal, in order to minimize confusion.
25,000 maps will also be replaced. Maps inside train cars will be stripped down to simplify reading them from across the car.
Whether these changes actually help in understanding the NYC subway system will only be known after the changeover.
