Second Ave. Sagas

More info emerges on new platform strip maps

Written by

Benjamin Kabak

in

A southbound IRT strip map sits on a post at 59th Street. (Photo by Juliette Wallack)

A few weeks ago, I write a short post on new strip maps that had begun to appear in a few select East Side subway stations. At the time, the MTA said to me that this initiative was the start of a plan to “increase the availability of easy-to-read maps throughout the system.” Today, a pair of articles illuminates the effort.

Over at DNA Info, Jill Colvin explored these new maps and tracked down a bunch of them at 59th and 34th Sts. for a slideshow. According to her reporting, these maps are still a trial. “This is a pre-cursor to the pilot,” MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said to her.

The authority, which has yet to determine a final design or a price point for the maps, is testing two versions. Those along the IRT are shorter and wider while those along the BMT are longer and narrow. In part, those design choices are part of the pre-pilot, and in part, the design choices are dictated by the routes that share tracks. The 4 and 5 branch off only at the northern ends while the R’s route can be represented on a linear strip map.

Meanwhile, over at the City Room blog, The Times profiled the maps as well. Aaron Donovan of the MTA spoke with Sydney Ember about the map. He said Transit wants passengers to know where they are “at a glance…without having to closely scrutinize or study a more broader map.”

So far, at least, these maps are far more prominent than the few that remain behind plexiglass on random platforms throughout the city, and they are reminiscent of a long-lost feature of the subway map. They are, of course, most useful during the day as they show only peak-hour service. I haven’t seen them in person yet, but in photos, they appear visible and useful.

Comments

12 responses to “More info emerges on new platform strip maps”

  1. Kevin

    Just noticed these the other day riding the N & R. They seem pretty cool and are designed just right as they give the rider the forward station stop info for only the stops that line is going to make in the appropriate direction (uptown or downtown). Seems like a nice, simple map plan.

    Hope they keep them!

    Reply
  2. Kai B

    Better than the black and white “paper in frame” ones they currently have.

    Side note (and nit-picky), I always find it overkill when they show transfer opportunities at every stop for parallel-running lines at every stop (like to the 3 on the map above in Brooklyn). Where the lines diverge or where a express/local transfer is to be made should be a enough.

    Reply
    1. Kai B

      *Correction: (like to the 2 on the map above in Brooklyn)

      Reply
    2. Scott E

      The automated announcements do that (except for local/express trains), it’s peculiar that the maps are different. At many stops, you’ll never know from the announcements that you can transfer from the 2 to the 3.

      Reply
    3. Phil

      They do the same on the 2/5 R142 strip maps. It’s quite redundant.

      Reply
  3. Andrew

    I like. The old strip maps behind glass were OK, but they weren’t station-specific or direction-specific like these are. (And the glass got dirty quickly.)

    I do wonder how they will be updated for service changes.

    A few nits:

    They should show weekend service in some fashion. In this case, a text box near the bottom – “No 5 in Brooklyn on weekends” – would probably do the trick. (And all maps should include a general disclaimer that weekend service is subject to change.)

    On a map for the 4/5, there shouldn’t be an ADA symbol at 14th St.

    The map completely ignores the existence of local stops. No, the 4 and 5 don’t serve them, but it might clarify things if there were a second vertical line, for the 6, showing local stops and transfer points from the 4/5.

    I don’t like the right angle at Franklin Av., which implies that trains can go from Utica to Flatbush. There should be a curve south of Franklin instead. Also, the directionality of that junction is reversed!

    Reply
    1. Aaron

      Agree, that wrongly-placed ADA symbol for 14th will cause a tourists or other infrequent rider trouble at some point. Because 14th St will never be accessible on the IRT because of the platform gaps, I think, I do hope it’s not someone in a wheelchair, that could end pretty badly :(.

      Reply
  4. Jeff

    I prefer the BMT version, mainly due to the prominence of the route bullet, which I think helps create the illusion of simplicity.

    Reply
    1. Andrew

      But the BMT version implies that only the R stops there, even though most people looking at that map can also use the N or Q.

      Reply
  5. Peter

    This is a good idea, but it will almost assuredly be implemented haphazardly, in keeping with typical MTA signage practice. And the next round of service cuts (or service additions! one can hope) will instantly render many of them inaccurate. They get around this on the strip maps within trains with stickers, but good luck affixing a sticker to a station column that isn’t ripped off within 24 hours.

    The problem is the complexity of the system – multiple services running on the same track, evening and weekend changes. It’s always going to be a challenge – maybe an impossibility – to boil the NYC subway down into a simple, easy-to-comprehend sign or map.

    Reply
    1. Kai B

      Good point. It may make more sense to hang them from the ceiling like the destination signage or even on the outer wall of island stations (much larger then of course).

      Reply
      1. Andrew

        I like the wall idea. Although that doesn’t help on island platforms. More freestanding map panels, maybe?

        Reply

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