Mapping Local and Commuter Rail Transit in NYC: MTA

• MTA is an initialism for Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 
• Years of Note:
  • In 1968, Metropolitan Transportation Authority assumed management of New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), Long Island Railroad (LIRR), the two commuter railroad operations that became Metro-North, and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA). The buses and ferries were also consolidated under this new management. 
• Please note that Staten Island Railway is managed by MTA, but known as SIR (Staten Island Railway)
• Please note that some earlier MTA maps will include the names of former local transit companies, such as the IRT, BRT, and IND (see below). 

Image Source: Key of The new subway map--courtesy of The News Sunday Magazine/ New York City Transit Authority. Map Div. 94-5688

• The new subway map--courtesy of The News Sunday Magazine/ New York City Transit Authority. 1972
  • Map Div. 94-5688
  • Example of the "Vignelli" Map
  • Digitized version available from Brooklyn Public Library- Click here to access
• The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Revised Map of Rapid Transit Facilities of New York City Transit Authority. 1972
  • Map Div. 76-2565
• Subway map with bus connections for customers with disabilities [cartographic material] / MTA. 2011
  • Map Div. 12-324
  • Note: Includes lists of subway routes and wheelchair accessible stations.
• Late night subway service, midnight to 6:00 am [cartographic material] : [New York] / MTA.info. 2012
  • Map Div. 12-336
• Subway diagram : commemorating the Second Avenue subway grand opening / Metropolitan Transportation Authority. © 2017
  • Map Div. 16-892
  • Design: Yoshiki Waterhouse and Beatriz Cifuentes with Massimo Vignelli.

Image Source: The new subway map--courtesy of The News Sunday Magazine/ New York City Transit Authority. Map Div. 94-5688

Online Research Catalog

When using the Online Research Catalog:

• In the Advanced Search function, checkmark "Cartographic" under Format.
• If you are interested in finding maps created by the MTA, we recommend the following searches into the Author field:
  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Not all maps that include MTA routes were created by the rapid transit company itself. Commercial, government, and other rapid transit companies would also showcase these local transit lines on their maps. As such, to include these maps in your search results, we recommend the following searches in the Keyword field:
  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority
  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority + [borough name]
    • Especially helpful when looking for bus maps
    • Example: Metropolitan Transportation Authority Staten Island

• Please note that you can have narrow your search to more specific results by combining the above search terms with any of the terms listed in the "Terms to Search in the Online Research Catalog" portion of this guide's Using Our Catalogs page

Dictionary Catalog

• For holdings of other items that are not in the Online Research Catalog, please search in the printed Dictionary Catalog of the Map Division (available online via HathiTrust), by:
  • Volume 7 page 16, under New York City Transit Authority, starting from 1968.

Current MTA Maps

To find the most current MTA Maps, we highly recommend reviewing the  MTA Website, specifically their Maps Page. This pages hosts variations of the current subway map, bus maps for all 5 boroughs, current Neighborhood Maps, and many more.

To find supplementary books and documents related to the MTA, please conduct the searches listed on this page's "Catalog Tips" with "Cartographic" NOT checkmarked  in either our Online Research Catalog or Digital Collections Portal. See below for a list of recommended materials:

• "Where do we go from here?". [1970]
  • HE356.5.N4 W43 1970z
  • Note: A booklet accompanying a film under the same title "... which dramatizes the efforts of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to solve complicated problems of transportation created by densely developed city and suburban areas".
  • Courtesy of Columbia University Libraries
• Vignelli transit maps / Peter B. Lloyd with Mark Ovenden. [2012]
  • Map Div. 13-2387
• From a nickel to a token : the journey from Board of Transportation to MTA / Andrew J. Sparberg. [2015]
  • *R-USLHG HE4491.N65 S63 2015
  • Digital copy available: Click here to access
• Graphics standards manual / New York City Transit Authority. [1970/2015]
  • JQF 17-582
  • Note: Reprint of 1970 New York Transit Authority publication.
• Annual Report. 1965-2006
  • JBM 99-136
  • Note: Creator is "New York (State). Metropolitan Transportation Authority."
  • Library has 1965/66-1977,1981-1988,1998-1999, 2001,2004,2006.