All posts tagged: USA

American Light Rail and Streetcar Systems to Scale by Matt Johnson

January 13, 2015
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Nice work here from long-time Transit Maps correspondent Matt Johnson as he visualises all existing and under construction light rail and streetcar systems in the USA in one graphic. In a way, this graphic is an update of this fantastic (but now out of date) one by Bill Rankin that shows the relative scales of all North American rail-based urban rapid transit (PDF link). The sprawling nature of some of the light rail systems is readily apparent, reflecting the […]

Photo – Official Map: Atlanta Streetcar In-car Strip Map

December 31, 2014
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Here’s a photo from long-time correspondent Matt’ Johnson of the in-car strip map for the just-opened-yesterday Atlanta Streetcar. I sort of get a Transport for London/Tube Map vibe from it, and that’s a good thing in my eyes. Simple, clean, bold, easy to read, and it doesn’t try to over-complicate or “dress up” what is a very simple loop system. It’s not completely perfect: all the station names are left-aligned and aligned to the left […]

Historical Map: “Wonders of New York” by Nils Hansell, c. 1953-1955

December 20, 2014
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Here’s a gorgeous and beautifully detailed map of New York (well, Manhattan, but at least it says there are “many places of interest on the other side of the river”!). It was designed by Nils Hansell, a graphic designer and sailing enthusiast who also worked for some years at IBM (according to the blurb over at the site I found the map, anyway). As well as some 300-odd numbered points of interest (as seen in […]

Project: Prototype U.S. Highways Shield (1926), Digital Recreation

December 14, 2014
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While doing research for my recent 1947 Interstate Highways map recreation, I stumbled across some scans of American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) road sign specifications dated from the 1920s. The very first page has a dimensioned drawing of the then brand new U.S. Highways shield that I find extremely interesting, as it doesn't quite match the the shield as it actually first appeared on real world signage in 1927.

Project: 1947 Map of Interstate Highways, Digital Recreation

December 10, 2014
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Historical Maps, Prints Available
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Having found and digitally restored the fantastic 1926 map of the U.S. Highway system, I started to look around to see if I could find a similar map from the advent of the newer Interstate Highway network. However, all my usual sources came up with either nothing or only low resolution scans -- certainly nothing suitable for reproduction. So, what's a map-obsessed graphic designer to do in this situation? Why, redraw the whole thing faithfully from scratch in Adobe Illustrator, of course!

Submission – New BART (San Francisco/Bay Area) Map with Oakland Airport Connector

December 2, 2014
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Submitted by long-time correspondent, Edward Russell, who says: Finally got a chance to see the updated BART map with the Oakland Airport Connector in person (see Edward’s photo below). Unlike the online map, they do depict Coliseum station as a transfer point with circles instead of just a dash. [Editor’s note: BART’s simpler online map has now also been updated to show the OAC transfer at the Coliseum station in the same style as this […]

Historical Map: Elevated Rail Lines in Manhattan and the Bronx, 1893-1903, Drawn c. 1955(?)

December 1, 2014
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Another great map from the New York Public Library archives. What was there before the advent of the subway? Familiar routes, perhaps, but above-grade rather than underground. As the legend says, “Except as noted, all lines are on iron viaducts over public streets.” nyplmaps: Manhattan railway company track map of elevated lines in Manhattan & the Bronx 1893-1903 The Electric Railroader’s Association’s 54 x 41 cm hand drawn map shows the various elevated railroad lines and […]

Unofficial Maps: Maxwell Roberts’ Variants on the Boston MBTA Map

November 15, 2014
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Thanks to pretty much the entire Internet for sending me a link to Boston Magazine’s story about Maxwell Roberts’ work on alternate MBTA “T” maps. I’m not going to review them all, but I would recommend that you click through and evaluate them yourself. Personally, the rotated hexalinear version shown above is my favourite.* What I’m interested in talking about is Roberts’ approach to transit map design. Whereas most designers will automatically gravitate to a […]