I’m not quite sure how I missed this one when Michael posted it to Twitter back at the beginning of March, because it’s really quite wonderful. It seems to be based on a 1959 proposal by O. Roy Chalk – the then owner of D.C. Transit – for a monorail system. Chalk considered traditional rail as obsolete, while monorail represented the future: “beautiful, silent-operating… suspended on graceful pylons for the most part.” You can read more about Chalk’s plans over here at Greater Greater Washington.

Chalk’s plan was light on details, and wasn’t seriously considered at the time. But what if it had been? This is the question that Michael’s map seems to ask, and shows the network in its fully built-out form, dating it to the mid-to-late 1960s in this alternate reality. I have to say that Michael’s absolutely nailed the mid-century American design aesthetic: big, bold, extended sans serif typography; and limited colours with overprinting used very effectively to extend the palette’s range. I love the rough halftones used for the waterways: they really add to the overall look and feel.

Our final word: A great “what if” map that absolutely looks the part. I love it!

Source: Michael Tyznik/Twitter