With today's news that the W train service will be reintroduced in the Fall, it's especially apt that Cartographer Andrew Lynch recently posted his own ideal, cost-effective train system, which will amaze your imagination.
We explain some of his ideas for the trains below. Check out Lynch's website to see the full map.
► Manhattan
New and Improved T line
That weird turquoise line running up the East Side? That is the T — the long-awaited Second Avenue Subway, but Lynch imagines it a bit more ambitiously. Instead of only one line from Hanover Square to 125 St., Lynch restores the long-defunct W and V lines along with it. The T runs local along the East Side from Grand St. to 116th, then veers left, crosses Harlem, and ends at 125th and Broadway, conveniently connecting with the 1 line.
Rerouting the Q to Upper Manhattan
The Q — as part of the MTA Second Ave. subway plan — is diverted from Queens to upper Manhattan, running alongside the T line and relieving traffic. But instead of terminating at 125th St. as stated in MTA's plans, it parts ways with the T at 116th St. and runs through The Bronx all the way to Eastchester Dyre Ave.
Extending the L Uptown
The line we all love to hate covers many more miles here. After its usual Eight Ave. stop, it continues toward Tenth Ave., turns right, and travels uptown all the way to 72nd St, where it connects to the 1, 2, and 3 trains. Amazing! The possibilities!
More LES service
Lower East Side gets more service, not only with the additional turquoise lines, but with the rerouting of the B and D lines, which would travel along Houston St., stop at the brand new Second Ave. and Ave. C stations, and then head directly to Williamsburg via a new East River underground tunnel. This would provide additional access to Williamsburg and ease traffic on the L line.
One Train from Fulton St. to LaGuardia
The W — restored along with the T and V lines — would provide an express route from the Financial District all the way to LaGuardia airport. Imagine: no transfers, no shuttle service, just one sitting.
► Brooklyn
Lynch proposes a K Line
This K line would run alongside the G, easing traffic along the Queens-Brooklyn line. It would peel away from the G after the Bedford-Nostrand Ave. stop, and then travel south through Prospect Heights and Crown Heights all the way to Brighton Beach, bringing more isolated parts of Brooklyn onto its inter-borough route. It would make crucial connections with many trains — such as the A, C, 2, and 3 lines — along the way.
V, W, and T come to BK
The new turquoise lines wouldn't end in lower Manhattan, but travel deep into Brooklyn and relieve a traffic along existing lines. The W and V run in substitute of the D train, following its route to Coney Island with the W running express and the V running local.
New Bushwick-Queens Transit Lines
Lynch reroutes and extends the B and M lines to provide a beautiful express connection between Bushwick and central Queens. This would finally provide an efficient transit line for Queens and Brooklyn commuters to bypass Manhattan (sorry G).
► Queens
Northeastern Queens Gets Train Service
Lynch's plan would provide service to the transit desert of northeastern Queens, with the 7 extended beyond Flushing, terminating at Whitestone in College Point. No more bus transfers!
LaGuardia Connected By Train
On Lynch's map, the W and R lines run all the way to LaGuardia — which is currently getting a significant facelift. The W and R lines would travel through northwestern Queens, sweep through lower Manhattan to the Financial District, and then dive deep into Brooklyn, with the R ending at Bay Ridge as usual, and the W ending at Bay Parkway, with many train transfers along the way.
Superexpress Train to JFK
Lynch streamlines the laborious public transit options between JFK and the rest of the city. The H would be a new “Queens Superexpress” line that connects Midtown to JFK with only a handful of stops in between. Additionally, the new V line would offer a new JFK line for Queens residents, following the A until it splits at Ozone Park and joins major Queens subway lines, including the E, F, and N.
► Bronx
The Q Comes to The Bronx
Under this plan by Lynch, the Q wouldn't just run up the East Side of Manhattan, but would extend to The Bronx, following a Metro-North line and servicing a transit-disadvantaged area. After 180th St., it takes over the 5 train and terminates at Eastchester Dyre Ave.
A Cross-Bronx D Line
Lynch reimagines the D line, extending it beyond 205th St. to Co-op City. The horizontal length of this line would make it the “de facto cross-Bronx line that would also allow for transfers to the 2/3/4/5/Q trains," Lynch writes.
The 3 Joins the 4
The 3 line is rerouted so that it wouldn’t end at 148th St. in Harlem, but into The Bronx. Lynch's 3 would run alongside the 4 line, easing congestion for commuters. The 149th St. junction would be restored, allowing for easy connections between the 2 and 5 trains.
