Looks great, and they did a nice job of using this map for the weekender map the past few years so it’s not completely foreign to everyone and allow for small adjustments
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Exactly - Vignelli’s original map (a masterpiece by graphic design standards) wan’t really love by the public in general - the MTA went back to the “spaghetti” design because of that! - it took almost 50 years to bring Vignelli’s design back - this time the MTA knew it had to win public’s opinion first - and also made some adjustments based on the old criticism (like the color of the parks)
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You raise a very good point. This obviously wasn’t the case back in Vignelli’s day, but nowadays virtually every transit journey around the world is planned using phone-based apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps and region- and system-specific apps. And New York is no exception. And that means that generally speaking the public’s opinion about a particular subway map design is irrelevant, because the public will never see the map to begin with. In fact, most folks these days (particularly those who have no experience folding out a paper map and planning a route, whether via the subway or the highways) are highly map-illiterate, and neither a good design nor a bad design will be helpful for them. Their understanding of the physical layout of the world around them begins and ends with the GPS direction arrow.
What makes New York a bit unique amongst the world’s subways, however, is the relative scarcity of mobile coverage underground. And that makes the onboard map slightly more relevant, as in many cases when the train is underground it may be the only way to track the train’s progress within the system (especially if the car does not have a physical onboard line diagram).
But overall the vast majority of the subway-riding public, save a few genuine mapheads here and there, couldn’t care less which design the MTA chooses for the subway map because they’ll never need to use the map.
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Yes - at this point the map is more part of the identity of the subway than a way finding tool
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I remember being absolutely mortified looking at the map on my first trip here in 1978. Fortunately I was with a friend that had been here before so he could read it pretty easily. Then traveling around the world and everyone thought it would be fun to copy the format. 
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That’s a good problem to have: a transit system so dense, with loads of duplication and redundancy, with many lines classified as “regional rail” or “commuter rail” running basically at metro frequency, with through-running between different train operating companies (something that LIRR and NJ Transit will never agree to even in our wildest dreams), with unique alphanumeric station codes for many lines … that it is all but impossible to portray altogether except in a very complex schematic.
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My head would explode.
I’m a fan of the Vignelli map and welcome the change. It even back then looked modern. It’s much nicer and cleaner than what the status quo was for a while. The revision satisfied public criticism while still keeping the original’s design language.
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I remember the first time using the Tokyo subway trying to figure out the maps, and connections etc.
Very quickly used google
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Duffy toured a small section of the subway. He still thinks it’s unsafe and dirty while the visit was kept secret and unannounced to keep him from being questioned by the press. He also claims riders are “forced” to use the subway as if they had no choice (despite the subway being cheaper and better than driving).
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Reading those articles makes me want to throw up
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In other news, the SAS phase 2 is progressing along although its very slow.
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Phase 3 is the real game-changer where it will actually feel like a new line imo.
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I really hope they keep their options open for a Phase 5 western 125th street expansion. We will be dead, but sometimes you don’t see the trees that grow from the seeds you plant.
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A new elevator opened at Queensboro Plaza.
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Huzzah! This is within 25-01 Queens Plaza North
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I want to see ‘laws’ enforced as a simple and low cost “transit” improvement: venders on subway cars and platforms must stop.
I see this on “every” subway ride I take - it simply adds to the sense of lawlessness in NYC. Fare beaters, vagrants, vendors, etc. We can help these people AND improve the quality of life for tax paying citizens using public transportation.
The ‘NYC Underground’ is a mess… 
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And a new elevator also opened at the Northern Blvd subway station as well.
source: R42ToMoffat at Reddit
A great couple of weeks for transit accessibility in this part of Queens!
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Eh come on man…this is the least of the problems the MTA has. These people are just trying to make a living. Usually they ask if you want something then they leave you alone, i’m cool with them.
I do agree absolutely that they need to harp down on the smokers, vagrants, and other people that make the subway difficult
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