Submitted by James, who says:
I created this map based on various concepts (mainly the work of Alon Levy) for through-running regional rail in the New York region. This network would integrate all of the current commuter rail networks, increasing frequencies to metro-like levels, so I thought a metro-like diagrammatic map would be a good fit. The services are grouped by their routes through the core to organize the many branches into six line identities. I’ve also shown very rudimentary connections to PATH, HBLR, Newark Light Rail, and the MTA Subway and future IBX as simple dots colored by the subway trunk color to save on space and information density. Interested to hear your take on my little design project, and excited to share it with the wider transit map community.
Transit Maps says:
Oh my, this is just full of buttery goodness! Polished, clean, balanced, visually strong, an excellent legend… this one has it all. And I love the idea of combining all of New York’s myriad and varied commuter rail agencies into one cohesive, through-running service.
Despite being what looks like a hexadecalinear diagram – or a staggering sixteen possible directions for route lines to go – James has exercised considerable restraint and given more emphasis to certain angles to give the diagram an excellent compositional framework – Long Island, in particular, looks very striking. Remember, just because you have a lot of choices doesn’t mean you have to use them all!
If there’s perhaps one overarching flaw with this diagram, it’s that it is perhaps just a little too subtle in places. Borough and county labels are too small to be used for quick geographical orientation, similarly the route numbers placed along the lines are really too small to be used for wayfinding, and the thin dark stroke that James puts on each route line to indicate the “core” section is almost invisible. Subtle, classy design is great – I love James’ masterful deployment of drop shadows and outer glows throughout the diagram – but information hierarchy and usability sometimes requires certain elements to draw more attention to themselves.
Our final word: Looks gorgeous, and presents a compelling vision of a better commuter rail future in New York. Has some information hierarchy and element size issues.
Also, unless this map is old, it makes the mistake of using Connecticut’s historical counties instead of it’s present-day planning regions. The cities on this map are located in four different planning regions: Western Connecticut, Greater Bridgeport, Naugatuck River Valley, and South Central Connecticut.
Crayoning is fun! Especially when it’s done well and make people see opportunities.
I would like to see the list of infrastructure needed to support this. The biggest obstacle is the cracking of heads at MTA (both), Amtrak, and NJT, of course.
Non-AMTK service from PSNY to CT is already in the works and the tracks all exist.
Rerouting Hudson River service to PSNY likely means upgrades to that west side tunnel for more capacity.
Then there is the matter of 2 new tunnels under the Hudson, one of which crosses the East R as well, and another under the harbor to Staten I. Most of that line from Staten I into the rest of NJ already exists, doesn’t it? Would need upgrading, surely, but it’s there.
I like it. That *only* Amtrak trains pass through the Galactic Barrier at PSNY is just dumb. It leads to stupid things like huge yards E & W of Penn for trains that should be out earning money instead of resting.
It’s the knocking of heads that will be the problem. The rest is just money (which we have lots of when we want to).
Of course, there would need to be some proper planning to make sure that the branches east and west (consider CT “east”) of Manhattan are balanced as well as they can be, but yes. Please call Congress and start the process!! 😀