Fantasy Subway Map 2 (A Geographically Accurate One)

[CenSin]

I mentioned making one a long time ago in this thread: http://www.nyctransitforums.com/forums/f22/accurate-scale-subway-map-18506.html

 

So a few days ago, I started out with some map data from Open Street Maps and began plotting the lines and station markers. I haven't gotten to typing the station names yet, but I'm already thinking about soliciting good ideas (emphasis on good).

 

Below is a thumbnail linking to a full-sized JPEG map of the subway system as it is currently built and operated. I've highlighted areas that need: faster service in yellow; any kind of additional service in gray; and a lot of service in red.

 

(Click the thumbnail for a full-sized image.)

 

 

You can probably tell by the image that I do not consider the gray areas very important, but there was empty space there, so if you've got a good suggestion, go right on ahead and mention it. Name the areas you are making a suggestion for and explain your reasoning; the areas are labeled by letter.

 

Make the assumption that the outer borough populations and businesses have grown and places like Downtown Brooklyn have become comparable to Midtown Manhattan. (The is not useless compared to its Manhattan-bound brethren anymore.) There are a few obvious cases already (such as 3 Avenue, Bronx and 2 Avenue, Manhattan being served by a ).

 

I've proposed some extensions already, but they're open for commenting before I commit to them. Here's a full PDF version:

 

New_York_City_Metropolitan_Area_Map.pdf

 

 

 

EDIT [2012-02-04]: There will be plenty of errors on the map like missing station markers or markers on the wrong streets.

EDIT [2012-02-05]: A PDF with annotations is now available. You can read and add your own comments to it.

Edited February 5, 2012 by CenSin

[NX Express]

 

extensions further into Queens and a QBL Bypass are the only things I can think of at the moment.

[Roadcruiser1]

Create the IND Queens Boulevard super-express. Use the like in the original plans. Have the run express and reroute the as a local. Have the branch off the IND Queens Boulevard Line at Woodhaven Boulevard and have it run on the Rockaway Beach Branch to Beach-116th Street. Have the rejoin the IND Queens Boulevard Line at Forest Hills-71st Avenue and let it run it's normal patterns. Have the join the to Jamaica-179th Street since it is running express and has a lot more time to run out there. If possible extend the and onto Hillside Avenue and have it run far into Eastern Queens. Another idea is to finish the Archer Avenue Subway extension like proposed and run the , and far into Eastern Queens.

 

These were the original plans from the 1930's, the 1960's, and the 1970's.

[Grand Concourse]

Basically as I stated in the Aqueduct thread.

[trainfan22]

A rail service on the Bay Ridge line, branches off at 4th Ave down to 86th street and terminate there, northbound a branch branches off at E80th Street goes east and makes a left towards JFK Airport serving Caransie Pier, SC Towers, Gateway Mall, Cross Bay Blvd, Casino and terminate @ JFK Airport.

 

And a branch would go from 86th Street and follow the BR line up until northern Queens where it would branch off and end @ LGA Airport.

[CenSin]

A rail service on the Bay Ridge line, branches off at 4th Ave down to 86th street and terminate there, northbound a branch branches off at E80th Street goes east and makes a left towards JFK Airport serving Caransie Pier, SC Towers, Gateway Mall, Cross Bay Blvd, Casino and terminate @ JFK Airport.

 

And a branch would go from 86th Street and follow the BR line up until northern Queens where it would branch off and end @ LGA Airport.

Where are you talking about? Name the regions if all the roads you're mentioning aren't in the same geographical area.

 

Create the IND Queens Boulevard super-express. Use the like in the original plans. Have the run express and reroute the as a local. Have the branch off the IND Queens Boulevard Line at Woodhaven Boulevard and have it run on the Rockaway Beach Branch to Beach-116th Street. Have the rejoin the IND Queens Boulevard Line at Forest Hills-71st Avenue and let it run it's normal patterns. Have the join the to Jamaica-179th Street since it is running express and has a lot more time to run out there. If possible extend the and onto Hillside Avenue and have it run far into Eastern Queens. Another idea is to finish the Archer Avenue Subway extension like proposed and run the , and far into Eastern Queens.

 

These were the original plans from the 1930's, the 1960's, and the 1970's.

I'm not really a fan of circuitous route though (like the ), hence soliciting ideas even though there are many obvious ones; I do read the threads here.

[trainfan22]

Where are you talking about? Name the regions if all the roads you're mentioning aren't in the same geographical area.

 

My idea for a JFK branch from the BR line in Caransie would branch off at E80th Street, which happen in region R on your map. Also in Region R, the JFK branch would turn east at Seaview Ave (From E80th Street) and go straight down that path, though region P, where it would make a right, alongside the line and end at JFK, it would run along side the Belt parkway once it turns at Seaview Ave pretty much.

 

The 86th/4th idea can be axed as I see if doesn't go into a shaded area.

 

The LGA Airport idea, it would use the Bay Ridge line tracks from 5th Ave in Brooklyn up until Northern Blvd in Queens (In region I) where it would branch off the BR line and follow the BQE to GCP to LGA Airport and there, also in region I.

[CenSin]

I've uploaded a PDF draft here: http://bayfiles.com/file/2eIN/txymnA/New_York_City_Metropolitan_Area_Map.pdf. It contains my own annotations and comments. (You can edit them.)

 

My idea for a JFK branch from the BR line in Caransie would branch off at E80th Street, which happen in region R on your map. Also in Region R, the JFK branch would turn east at Seaview Ave (From E80th Street) and go straight down that path, though region P, where it would make a right, alongside the line and end at JFK, it would run along side the Belt parkway once it turns at Seaview Ave pretty much.

 

The 86th/4th idea can be axed as I see if doesn't go into a shaded area.

 

The LGA Airport idea, it would use the Bay Ridge line tracks from 5th Ave in Brooklyn up until Northern Blvd in Queens (In region I) where it would branch off the BR line and follow the BQE to GCP to LGA Airport and there, also in region I.

See if you can draw on top of my map.

[CenSin]

I've pretty much completed the basic map: it's the current system and service patterns with all the roads, routes, station markers, and labels for the stations. Any work will proceed from here.

 

New_York_City_Metropolitan_Area_Map.pdf

(7.71 MiB)

 

The file opens in Adobe Acrobat X Reader (minimum).

[CenSin]

Click to download the PDF: New_York_City_Subway_Map_2.pdf

Click to download the PDF: New_York_City_Subway_Map_2.pdf

 

There are way too many lines crammed onto the map to make labels easy to read. I'm going to resort to making an interactive (either Flash or HTML5) map that will display the station names dynamically.

 

Service patterns:

 

• 1: Same as current.
  
• 2: Same as current but extended to Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn.
  
• 3: Same as current but extended one station further beyond the yard in Brooklyn.
  
• 4: Same as current but extended to Broadway Junction. The A will now have a connection to the IRT in Brooklyn and a better option for reaching the Atlantic Avenue–Pacific Street station.
  
• 5: Same as current but extended to Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn.
  
• 6: Same as current.
  
• 7: Runs from Bayside to 23 Street and 11 Avenue in Manhattan via the Flushing line. Some trains run express.
  
• 8: Runs from College Point in Queens to 23 Street and 11 Avenue in Manhattan as a local via the Flushing line.
  
• A: Same as current but always goes to/from Far Rockaway. The Liberty Avenue extension from Euclid Avenue has been eliminated and all trains take a shorter route along Pitkin Avenue.
  
• B: Runs from Laurelton in southeastern Queens using the LIRR right-of-way to Jamaica Center, then runs to Queensbridge–21 Street non-stop. The 6 Avenue express tracks now continue under the east river to South 4 Street. The B heads to Kings Plaza via Utica Avenue express.
  
• C: Same as current except it runs under Worth Street after Canal Street to the South 4 Street station where it continues to Kings Highway via Utica Avenue as a local.
  
• D: Runs from Baychester Avenue in the Bronx to Coney Island. It's express along Central Park West and 6 Avenue. At 2 Avenue, it switches to the local tracks and continues Jay Street–MetroTech where it runs express to Church Avenue before continuing to Coney Island. Some trains run express between Church Avenue and Kings Highway.
  
• E: Runs from Springfield Boulevard in southeastern Queens along Linden Boulevard and Van Wyck Expressway and continues via Queens Boulevard as an express. The E continues running express along 8 Avenue (it's local role now filled by the K) and Fulton Street to Rockaway Park.
  
• F: Runs from Littleneck Parkway in northeastern Queens via Hillside Avenue and Queens Boulevard as an express. Runs local in Brooklyn and terminates at Church Avenue. Some trains run local between Church Avenue and Kings Highway.
  
• G: Runs from Utopia Parkway via Jewel Avenue and Queens Boulevard as a local and continues as a local to Church Avenue.
  
• H: Runs from Roosevelt Avenue to Linden Boulevard via Parsons Boulevard. It's the crosstown service for eastern Queens.
  
• J: Runs from Hollis to the Financial District via Jamaica Avenue and Bushwick Avenue. The line has been straightened and placed underground. Some trains run express between Jamaica Center and Myrtle Avenue.
  
• K: Runs from Bedford Park Boulevard to the World Trade Center as a local.
  
• L: Runs from 72 Street and Broadway in Manhattan to Canarsie as a local.
  
• M: Runs from 73 Place and Central Avenue via Central Avenue and Myrtle Avenue to Bay Parkway as a local.
  
• N: Runs from LaGuardia Airport to Coney Island as an express along Broadway and 4 Avenue.
  
• O: Runs from Little Neck Parkway in northeastern Queens via Horace Harding Expressway (the Long Island Expressway) to 34 Street and 11 Avenue in Manhattan.
  
• P: Runs from the John F. Kennedy Airport to 34 Street and 11 Avenue via the former LIRR Rockaway Beach right-of-way and the Montauk branch. It's pretty much the most direct route you can have between the Pennsylvania Station and John F. Kennedy Airport without displacing a large population of people to make way for a new right-of-way.
  
• Q: Runs from Woodlawn in the Bronx along the MetroNorth right-of-way, 3 Avenue, 2 Avenue, Broadway, and Brighton to Coney Island. It's local in the Bronx, express in Manhattan, and express Brooklyn.
  
• R: Runs from Jamaica–179 Street to Bay Ridge as a local.
  
• T: Runs from Woodlawn to Coney Island along the MetroNorth right-of-way, 3 Avenue, 2 Avenue, 4 Avenue, and West End. It is local in the Bronx, and express in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
  
• U: Runs from Co-Op City, Bronx to Richmond Avenue in Staten Island. It uses the Amtrak right-of-way in the Bronx and runs express via 2 Avenue in Manhattan and 3 Avenue in Brooklyn.
  
• V: Runs from East Tremont Avenue in Throggs Neck, Bronx to Howard Beach in Queens as a local via Lafayette Avenue, 2 Avenue, and Fulton Street.
  
• W: Runs from 125 Street and Broadway in Manhattan to Brighton Beach via 2 Avenue, Broadway, Montague Street tunnel, and Brighton as a local.
  
• X: Runs from Inwood–207 Street in Manhattan to the north shore line in Staten Island. It runs express along 3 Avenue in the Bronx and express where it runs parallel to the Canarsie line. Most of its route is that of the TriboroRX. It was designed to intersect with as many routes as possible with transfers to them.
  
• Y: Basically the north shore railroad in Staten Island.
  
• Z: Basically the Staten Island Railway today with an extra station at the Staten Island Expressway to make a connection to the X.
  
• Plane: Connects the LaGuardia Airport with the John F. Kennedy Airport. It runs via Junction Boulevard and the LIRR's currently-abandoned Rockaway Beach right-of-way. The connection from the Rockaway Beach right-of-way to the John F. Kennedy Airport is partly elevated, partly depressed, and partly underground. It's southern terminus is at Terminal 4.
  

 

 

Except where there's obviously too many services for 2 tracks, most new extensions are double-tracked only.

 

• From 161 Street and 3 Avenue in the Bronx to the Harlem River, the line is 6-tracked. 2 tracks are dedicated to the X (which, in fact, has 2 tracks to itself from end to end).
  
• From 125 Street and 2 Avenue in Manhattan to 63 Street, the line is also 6-tracked. 4 tracks are for the express underneath the pair of local tracks.
  
• The rest of the 2 Avenue line is 4-tracked, and Grand Street—having been cut off from 6 Avenue—is now solely served by 2 Avenue service. Below Grand Street there is a connection to the Manhattan Bridge, and below Hanover Square, the local and express tracks make a dive and turn towards Brooklyn.
  
• In Brooklyn, the 2 Avenue local tracks connect to what is now the Transit Museum, and the express tracks run elevated over 3 Avenue a là AirTrain. There was no obvious site for connecting another line from Manhattan to 4 Avenue and there are already 2 express routes running along its length. Staten Island, being so far from Manhattan, would be better off using its own right-of-way which leaves room for additional capacity in the future. Of course, that means it'll be poorly connected to the other lines in Brooklyn. That transfer at 36 Street between 3 Avenue and 4 Avenue is a long one indeed.
  
• The entire elevated portion of the Jamaica line from the Williamsburg Bridge to Jamaica has been dismantled and that includes the Myrtle Avenue branch. A new trunk line lays just north in its place with 3 massive junction stations at Marcy Avenue, Union Avenue, and Flushing Avenue. The Broadway–Union Avenue station will be named Broadway Junction West and the current Broadway Junction station will be renamed Broadway Junction East. Marcy Avenue and Union Avenue are 6-tracked. The Myrtle Avenue line is 2-tracked, Jamaica line is 3-tracked, and Utica Avenue line is 4-tracked.
  

 

Edited February 28, 2012 by CenSin
Added descriptions of each route

[noktulo]

I love a transit map design project (designing the map itself, not the actual routes). Would you be okay with me attempting to create a transit map based on your design (full credit to you of course)? I'm interested in the challenge of making that many lines clear and easy to understand.

[vanshnookenraggen]

Very nice. I like some of your ideas. The Cross-Queens routes are particularly good. Why not extend the H train to JFK? The G branch off the Queens Blvd line is a good idea too, one which might actually be worth studying

[Roadcruiser1]

There is room for a local service on the Sixth Avenue Line. You should create a new service using Sixth Avenue. Maybe it can follow the (U) from Staten Island all the way up to the Bronx as a local. It would have to branch of the Sixth Avenue Line though. It can head up Third or Fifth Avenue, and serve the areas west of the in the Bronx before heading out even farther to serve the western section of Riverdale.

 

Oh yeah you have a problem. Trains can't use the Verrazano Narrows Bridge since Robert Moses built it like that. It would have to be in a tunnel parallel to the bridge, and I don't thing the subway can use the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel since Robert Moses built that too. It would have to be in a parallel tunnel.

[CenSin]

For entirely new lines, I've got a lot of stations that are pretty far apart. If anyone thinks there should be a station somewhere in between or a station that should be moved to a better location, tell me and I'll add one in.

 

I love a transit map design project (designing the map itself, not the actual routes). Would you be okay with me attempting to create a transit map based on your design (full credit to you of course)? I'm interested in the challenge of making that many lines clear and easy to understand.

Sure. Do what you need to the file. Keep in mind that there's a caveat: it's not as geographically accurate as I'd like it to be. The streets and land outlines were sourced from 2 different places and so some features don't exactly line up; some streets will appear to be in the water in some areas. If I can find a better source for map data, I'd like to rectify the mistake.

 

Just beware of the numerous roads. There are so many of them; they crashed my editors before and they'll do it again.

 

Very nice. I like some of your ideas. The Cross-Queens routes are particularly good. Why not extend the H train to JFK? The G branch off the Queens Blvd line is a good idea too, one which might actually be worth studying

I probably should have, but it was late in the night and I didn't get much sleep, so I ended the H right there rather than drawing more lines (and the accompanying shadows, guides, and station markers). From where it ends now, it's obvious how it'd be extended to the airport, but I have doubt about its usefulness. Most people aren't traveling between the airport and eastern Queens exclusively, and the P would probably be the most popular option. The H is also an entire station away from the LIRR Jamaica junction station. The AirTrain is the better option for them.

 

I was thinking about connecting the H to Atlantic Avenue and having it run down to Downtown Brooklyn instead to make it a speedy crosstown line.

 

There is room for a local service on the Sixth Avenue Line. You should create a new service using Sixth Avenue. Maybe it can follow the (U) from Staten Island all the way up to the Bronx as a local. It would have to branch of the Sixth Avenue Line though. It can head up Third or Fifth Avenue, and serve the areas west of the in the Bronx before heading out even farther to serve the western section of Riverdale.

You're right about western Bronx; the Regional Planning Association documents do mention that the area has poor rapid transit options and are also densely populated. I think extending the 3 would be a better option though since it's already there and should have probably been extended.

 

And now that you mentioned branching off the 63 Street tunnel, I caught a mistake within Central Park; there shouldn't be a station in Central Park. I'll delete that in the next revision.

 

Oh yeah you have a problem. Trains can't use the Verrazano Narrows Bridge since Robert Moses built it like that. It would have to be in a tunnel parallel to the bridge, and I don't thing the subway can use the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel since Robert Moses built that too. It would have to be in a parallel tunnel.

I wasn't kidding when I said "geographically accurate". The U runs in a tunnel parallel to the Battery Tunnel and runs to Staten Island via a tunnel under and adjacent to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. You'll notice that for the lines that do run on the bridges, the lines are drawn directly on top of them rather than next to them.

 

Give me some ideas for Staten Island though. The area has very few obvious places where a subway branch makes sense and few, if any, streets appear to be "important".

Edited February 28, 2012 by CenSin

[noktulo]

The map I'd like to create is closer to diagrammatic than geographic (think the London tube map), so it's okay that your map's not totally accurate.

[CenSin]

The map I'd like to create is closer to diagrammatic than geographic (think the London tube map), so it's okay that your map's not totally accurate.

Asides from the roads and geographical approximation, there's not really much else to my map. But if you make something awesome, I'd like to see it! Good luck to you.

[2Line1291]

I know this is an fantasy map, but the (U) all runs via 2nd Ave (unless 2nd Ave has local, express and super express tracks) and the criss-crosses from express to local southbound, while the criss-crosses local to express southbound!

[CenSin]

I know this is an fantasy map, but the (U) all runs via 2nd Ave (unless 2nd Ave has local, express and super express tracks)

• From 161 Street and 3 Avenue in the Bronx to the Harlem River, the line is 6-tracked. 2 tracks are dedicated to the X (which, in fact, has 2 tracks to itself from end to end).

• From 125 Street and 2 Avenue in Manhattan to 63 Street, the line is also 6-tracked. 4 tracks are for the express underneath the pair of local tracks.

• The rest of the 2 Avenue line is 4-tracked, and Grand Street—having been cut off from 6 Avenue—is now solely served by 2 Avenue service. Below Grand Street there is a connection to the Manhattan Bridge, and below Hanover Square, the local and express tracks make a dive and turn towards Brooklyn.

 

 

and the criss-crosses from express to local southbound, while the criss-crosses local to express southbound!

The local tracks above 57 Street–7 Avenue can be extended north. There are trackways for that. Rumor has it that there used to be tracks there but got removed due to disuse. This system extends it and connects it to the express tracks further north after the 59 Street tracks dive under the main line. The fact that the express and local share tracks for a single station still poses a problem though. Some creative rerouting will need to be done or I could just wave a magic wand and say there is another tunnel extending from the Broadway local tracks that stops by Lexington Avenue and directly connects to the 2 Avenue local tracks without harassing the express tracks.

 

 

 

By the way, does anyone else think that an LGA to Rockaway Park line would be a great crosstown connector? It's nearly straight as an arrow and its northern portion runs along a "major" road. The Rockaway Beach branch just seems to naturally continue along Junction Boulevard without much of a twist or turn.

[2Line1291]

wow... I feel bad I didn't even read your entire post.

The local tracks above 57 Street–7 Avenue can be extended north. There are trackways for that. Rumor has it that there used to be tracks there but got removed due to disuse. This system extends it and connects it to the express tracks further north after the 59 Street tracks dive under the main line. The fact that the express and local share tracks for a single station still poses a problem though. Some creative rerouting will need to be done or I could just wave a magic wand and say there is another tunnel extending from the Broadway local tracks that stops by Lexington Avenue and directly connects to the 2 Avenue local tracks without harassing the express tracks.

 

 

 

By the way, does anyone else think that an LGA to Rockaway Park line would be a great crosstown connector? It's nearly straight as an arrow and its northern portion runs along a "major" road. The Rockaway Beach branch just seems to naturally continue along Junction Boulevard without much of a twist or turn.

I know what rumor you're talking about, those Broadway local tracks were to go up Central Park West though. LGA to Rockaway Park line is worth the investment. It connects LGA and JFK.

[CenSin]

I know what rumor you're talking about, those Broadway local tracks were to go up Central Park West though.

Actually, I believe it was the express tracks that were supposed to go there (may be both). The express tracks coming from the Broadway line is said to curve a bit west before curving east again to meet the 63 Street line.It would make sense since the line (in the 1939 plans) would run under Central Park making no stops until around 110~145 Street.

 

LGA to Rockaway Park line is worth the investment. It connects LGA and JFK.

I have my doubts about the utility of a line that is used to connect people between airports. Considering the fact that most travel between the Airport and Manhattan, it'd appear that the line is most useful to those within Queens (traveling to/from there). Everyone else would take the N or P since most of the outer borough branches tend to funnel people into Midtown Manhattan anyway. For that LGA–JFK connection to be useful, there needs to be a lot more outer borough lines intersecting it—which means those lines must remain outside of Manhattan. I can't seem to identify many useful corridors though.

[Brooklyn]

Newcomer to the site here.... have been viewing for years and finally decided to join.

 

Excellent map..I will post my own one day as well. It is similar to yours but a bit simpler.I love the idea of a train that connects JFK and LGA. I drew up a similar line but instead it would be the Triboro RX (the "X" train) curving NORTH after Roosevelt Av-Jackson Heights to LGA. It would terminate at Nostrand Av to connect with the 2 and 5 trains or Avenue J to connect with the Q.

 

The line going to JFK would be a separate one (I call it the "Y" train that would take over the A train in the Rockaways). The "X" would be a Brooklyn-Queens line, and the "Y" train would strictly be a Queens line. I will try to upload a png image so that this is clearer.

 

It wouldn't just be about connecting the airports but easing travel WITHIN Brooklyn and Queens. In Brooklyn, this would take tremendous pressure off the B6 and B103 routes. You can't imagine how many people are waiting for buses at that Flatbush Av terminal.

 

A line like this would make it make it easier for people who live in East NY, Bed Stuy, and Brownsville to get to Queens if they work there... the commute can be a NIGHTMARE if they need to get to Queens Blvd or LGA. You also have people who need to get from Queens to Brooklyn...If they work at SUNY downstate, they are probably looking at a nearly two hour commute. You have a number of people who are health care workers and airport workers who would love this line.

[CenSin]

Newcomer to the site here.... have been viewing for years and finally decided to join.

 

Excellent map..I will post my own one day as well. It is similar to yours but a bit simpler.I love the idea of a train that connects JFK and LGA. I drew up a similar line but instead it would be the Triboro RX (the "X" train) curving NORTH after Roosevelt Av-Jackson Heights to LGA. It would terminate at Nostrand Av to connect with the 2 and 5 trains or Avenue J to connect with the Q.

 

The line going to JFK would be a separate one (I call it the "Y" train that would take over the A train in the Rockaways). The "X" would be a Brooklyn-Queens line, and the "Y" train would strictly be a Queens line. I will try to upload a png image so that this is clearer.

 

It wouldn't just be about connecting the airports but easing travel WITHIN Brooklyn and Queens. In Brooklyn, this would take tremendous pressure off the B6 and B103 routes. You can't imagine how many people are waiting for buses at that Flatbush Av terminal.

 

A line like this would make it make it easier for people who live in East NY, Bed Stuy, and Brownsville to get to Queens if they work there... the commute can be a NIGHTMARE if they need to get to Queens Blvd or LGA. You also have people who need to get from Queens to Brooklyn...If they work at SUNY downstate, they are probably looking at a nearly two hour commute. You have a number of people who are health care workers and airport workers who would love this line.

So what kind of changes would you make to my map?

[Brooklyn]

It's not about changes--I respect your work and creativity.

 

I just had something of my own to share, that's all .

 

I am going to put up a rough sketch shortly...I just have a few things to do first.

[Brooklyn]

How does one upload an image?

[Threxx]

How does one upload an image?

 

It has to be in a url. If you have a flickr, Dropbox, Photobucket, etc., just put in the URL of the pic and it will show up.