 New NYC Subway Map Debuts After 45 Years

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The MTA has replaced its iconic 1979 subway map with a bold new design featuring straight lines on a white background, the first major overhaul in nearly 50 years.

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Transit officials claim the redesigned map makes navigation easier, particularly at transfer points and accessible stations marked with clearer symbols.

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It's about time our map caught up," said MTA Chair Janno Lieber, linking the update to the agency's push for a "21st century customer experience.

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The new map takes cues from Massimo Vignelli's controversial 1972 design that prioritized clarity over geographical accuracy but was scrapped after just seven years.

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Many New Yorkers questioned the timing and necessity of the redesign, with one Queens rider stating: "The map update could've waited. There are other things that need to be prioritized."

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Online critics slammed the distorted geography, with one commenter writing bluntly: "The city looks distorted. This is not an improvement."

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Both the redesigned map and the familiar old version will remain available for download on the MTA website as the rollout continues across stations and trains.

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The map now shows features absent from the 1979 version including the Second Avenue Subway, 7-line extension, and improved accessibility information for riders with disabilities.

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While Lieber called this a "linchpin moment" for transit improvements, he declined to reveal the redesign's cost, stating only that it was completed "entirely in house."

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Rider David R. voiced a common concern: "I hope this is not why they are raising the fare again. Is this where it goes?"

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