All posts tagged: light rail

Book Review: “Transit Maps of the World”, 2015 Revised Edition by Mark Ovenden

November 2, 2015
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First published in the United Kingdom as Metro Maps of the World in 2003, this book has long been an indispensable reference book for graphic designers, train aficionados, cartographers, and geeks alike. However, its last major revision was in 2007 – and much has changed in the world of transit map design since then. More transit systems, new maps, revised maps, digital and web-based maps, the rise of the amateur map designer and more. Like […]

Historical Maps: Two Futures for the Tyne & Wear Metro, England

October 16, 2015
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Here’s a pair of interesting future planning maps for the Tyne & Wear Metro, a raid transit/light rail system in the northeast of England. The first, from September 2001, shows a plan to extend the network with street-running feeder trams, as shown by the light blue route lines. Note that the map indicates the extension to Sunderland as open, even though this wasn’t actually completed until 2002. According to the plan, this was a future […]

Official Map: Portland Streetcar, 2015

September 17, 2015
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Amidst all the hoopla surrounding the opening of the new MAX light rail Orange Line, it’s easy to forget that Portland’s streetcar is now also running over the new Tilikum Crossing bridge. They’ve taken this opportunity to rework their system map to bring it more in line with their new branding – check out the rather nice new logo at the top left of the map, which doesn’t look half bad on the streetcars themselves. […]

Submission – Official Map: Manchester Metrolink, England, 2015

August 19, 2015
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Submitted by A. Potts, who says: Hi! This is the official map of the Manchester Metrolink, a tramway/light rail system in Northern England. I just thought I’d submit it to you for your opinion on it. This isn’t mine, obviously, but I haven’t been able to find who made it. If that’s something you also know, I’d love to know. Transit Maps says: Tracking down who produces official transit maps can be quite tricky. Even […]

Submission – Official Map: DCTA A-Train Map, Denton County, Texas, 2015

August 3, 2015
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Submitted by Kara Fischer, who says: I think I may have a new map for your Hall of Shame! Here’s the official map for A-Train service in Texas. That yellow line’s VERY hard to see on the pale background; there’s much more emphasis on the street grid and the lakes. And those station icons! I can’t tell what five of them are, and it’s absolutely ridiculous to only label them in the legend! Why can’t […]

Submission – Future Map: Four New Rail Lines in 2016, Denver, Colorado

July 24, 2015
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Sent in by Edward Russell, who says: Possible base for new Denver rail map? I spotted this map showing the new rail lines opening in Denver in 2016 on the train. I like the design a lot more than the official rail map. It seems much cleaner and clearer then the other maps that you have shown. What do you think? Could this be a good base – clearly they’d have to add the existing […]

Submission – Fantasy Future Map: Pittsburgh Rapid Transit by Michael Lopato

July 23, 2015
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Submitted by Michael, who previously submitted this redesign of the current Pittsburgh rapid transit network. He’s since updated that map and I’ll share that soon, but he also sent along this intriguing fantasy map of Pittsburgh’s future, saying this: I have also created a Pittsburgh fantasy map. I have seen a few other fantasy maps, including this one, on which the red line crosses a river a meager five times, this one, in which most […]

How Should the Purple Line Appear on the Washington, DC Metro Map?

July 17, 2015
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It’s a great question, and one that regular Transit Maps contributor Peter Dovak addresses over at the Greater Greater Washington website. A series of maps runs through a variety of options, each with its own pros and cons. Making Lance Wyman’s chunky style work with an increasingly complex system is a real challenge, but Peter’s definitely come up with some workable ideas. The one above uses a thinner route line for the Purple Line, which […]

Submission – Houston METRORail Future System Plan

July 15, 2015
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Submitted by Caden, who just enigmatically comments, “Houston: sigh” Transit Maps says: Caden’s sigh took me a little while to interpret (is he in love?), but I’m going to take a guess that he’s actually referencing some grand rapid transit plans – in a very car-centric city – that are now beginning to fade away. While the Red, (Green) East End and (Purple) Southeast lines are now operational, funding for the Blue University Line has completely […]

Fantasy Map: St. Jacques Metro Map by “Green Kitten”

July 10, 2015
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Um, wow? An incredibly detailed transit network for the fictional metropolis of “St. Jacques” drawn and lettered entirely by hand on what looks like 12 sheets of A4 paper.  Obviously taking its design and geography cues from London – the symbology used is almost identical to the Tube Map, it has a river that crosses from east to west just south of the city centre, an airport to the southwest and a pretty good analog for the […]