Maps are more than tools—they’re stories. In this episode, Andrew Lynch takes us on a journey through the subway systems of New York and Washington, revealing the secrets of abandoned lines, unrealized designs, and the choices that shape how we move through cities. If you’ve ever wondered what’s beneath the streets you walk, this episode is for you.

• LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE:
  
  
• Apple Podcasts
  
  
• Spotify

Show notes & links

• Check out Andrew’s work: Blog, Instagram, BlueSky, and buy some merch
  
  
• WMATA Wayfinding Improvements (Andrew’s map below)
  
  
• Listen to more maps episodes: Every map is a visual poem – the subway map with Peter Lloyd
  
  
• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of DC Metro’s Design and Wayfinding Evolution (Bloomberg News)
  
  
• New Signage Launched at L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station as Part of New Pilot Program (WUSA9)
  
  
• NYCDOT WalkNYC

Courtesy of WMATA

Washington Metro Episode Rock Block



Washington Metro: Great Society Subway

The Washington Metro is more than just a transit system; it’s a statement about government’s role in public life. We chat with Professor Zachary Schrag about the Washington Metro’s history, its stunning brutalist design, and the larger ideals it represents

Recipes for Wayfinding in the Washington Metro

Garrett Corcoran shows us how design can be a bridge between the past and the future. Taking on the challenge of extending wayfinding to digital screens for the Washington Metro, Garrett shares what it’s like working with historical design legacies and figuring out how to make screens feel as natural as those mid-century hexagon tiles.

Example WMATA neighborhood wayfinding map, courtesy of Andrew Lynch

Example WMATA wayfinding map, courtesy of Andrew Lynch

Sponsored by:

Expedition Works

Hi. We’re a full–service design cooperative – let’s work together to make your journey with a purpose successful.

Episode Takeaways

1. Purpose of Maps: A good map depends on its purpose. It should clearly define parameters like orientation and navigation but can also tell deeper stories about history, context, and unrealized plans.
   
   
2. Geographic vs. Diagrammatic Maps: Diagrammatic maps like Harry Beck’s iconic Tube map simplify navigation, but geographic maps reveal the complexity and reality of subway networks. Andrew Lynch balances both in his work.
   
   
3. The Evolution of Subway Mapping: The New York City subway map has evolved from Massimo Vignelli’s modernist approach to its current version, each reflecting different priorities—art, utility, and user psychology.
   
   
4. Storytelling Through Maps: Andrew’s maps explore what the subway system was, what it could have been, and what it might become, highlighting the importance of understanding historical layers and abandoned infrastructure.
   
   
5. Challenges of Subway Map Design: A perfect balance between geographic accuracy and usability is nearly impossible. Different cities like New York, Boston, and Washington have distinct needs, influencing their map designs.
   
   
6. Intermodal Integration: Andrew emphasizes the importance of showing connections between different transit modes (e.g., subways, buses, commuter rails) but critiques attempts to shoehorn bus routes into service diagrams without geographic context.
   
   
7. The Unique Role of NYC’s Subway: Unlike other cities, NYC’s subway map also serves as a de facto map of the city itself, making geographic elements critical for users to orient themselves.
   
   
8. The Art vs. Utility Debate: Lynch critiques the Vignelli map for prioritizing design over practicality, while praising later updates for incorporating better usability, such as the adoption of trunk line color schemes.
   
   
9. Lessons from the Washington Metro: Andrew’s work with WMATA included creating neighborhood-level maps and multimodal network diagrams, addressing issues like station similarity and poor orientation.
   
   
10. Maps as Urban History: Andrew’s work delves into urban exploration and cartography as tools to illuminate forgotten aspects of city history, such as abandoned subway lines and unused provisions.

Guest Bio

For over 20 years, Andrew Lynch has created maps that tell the story of what could have been, and what still yet might be. He uses maps to tell the story of the lost alternative realities our cities could have been. Lynch lives and works in NYC.

Andrew’s Track Maps

Track maps exist to show the system in more technical terms. Traditionally, track maps are simple schematics showing the location of tracks, switches, platforms, and signals.

Andrew’s track maps take this one step further and lay out an entire city in geographic terms, showing exactly where every piece is. Emphasis is made on non-revenue or abandoned sections to show the full layers of history that exist.

“I’m trying to understand how this whole thing really works. And to do that, you have to understand where things really are. A track map like mine isn’t necessarily useful for getting A to B, but it is useful for understanding how the subway network relates to the rest of the city.”

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