Submitted by Sam, who says:

Hey! For my Graphic Design Thesis, I created a Graphics Standard Update proposal for SEPTA. This includes a System Map (attached), a line map, and various other identity pieces.

The most challenging part of the project was creating a Transit map that organized the current information in a way that felt unique to Philadelphia, and increased readability.

Transit Maps says:

A bold and radical departure from the status quo from Sam here, and one that’s largely successful in my eyes. Whereas most attempts at a redesigned Philadelphia transit map are content to work withing the confines of a standard octolinear transit map, Sam has decided to reduce everything to a severe rectangular grid, eschewing geography almost entirely. The Schuylkill and Delaware rivers do give some context, but this is a heavily stylised diagram, not really a map in any traditional sense.

I really like Sam’s solution for showing free versus paid transfers – a solid black line for the former and a lighter diagonally striped “zone” or “corridor” for the latter, However, I think the legend explaining the transfers has an error: it erroneously says that free interchanges require an additional fare.

Less successful is Sam’s use of a white ring to denote accessible stations, while a white dot is used to show an inaccessible station. A dot looks more “complete” and is visually stronger than a ring, so I personally would have swapped the meaning of these two symbols.

Sadly, Philly’s venerable trolleys are once again given short shrift, with even less stops named than on the official map. It gives the diagram room to breathe, especially on the Media Line, but at the cost of required information? It almost begs the question of whether or not the trolleys should be shown with a thinner line than all the other services, as they are obviously the lowest component in the information hierarchy.

Speaking of hierarchy, I think a diagram like this should have a stricter layering order for all the services: rapid transit always on top, then regional rail, then trolleys, for example. At the moment, different levels of service sometimes pass on top or below other services in various places without a discernible reason why.

Our rating: An “thinking outside the box” solution that’s probably way too radical for any U.S. transit agency to even consider using. I think it’s well thought through and attractive, if a little imperfect. Huge credit for trying something so radical. Three-and-a-half stars.

You can also download a PDF about the whole identity for SEPTA that Sam has developed. The map is impressive by itself, but the way it integrates with a wider branding system is even more so.