Submission - Future Map: Four New Rail Lines in 2016, Denver,...

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

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 lines to it – for the new map in 2016?

Transit Maps says:

I don’t think so, Edward, although you’re right in saying that it’s generally more attractive than RTD’s usual efforts. To me, this looks more like a piece of promotional artwork that ties in nicely with the corresponding informational web page. There’s some nice typography as well, with the ever-pleasant Proxima Nova being deployed, just as it is on RTD’s website and other materials.

However, I don’t think that this map could ever be developed into a new full system map without a lot of reworking. The neatly arranged route letters – like the notes of a musical scale! – along the main light rail trunk line would get in the way of any stations for a start. The compression of the entire downtown loop into one big grey blob is also a problem that would have to be overcome. Then there’s the awful acute angle that the W Line takes as it heads out to Golden…

I do see some potential here – this map is drawn much more precisely than the official one – and I really, really do hope that RTD is looking at completely revamping their rail map as all these Fastracks projects come online this year… but I’m not holding my breath!

from Planet GS via John Jason Fallows on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1RYX9ou