First, transit officials in New York City said goodbye to the Metrocard.  Now the MTA is waving farewell to another transit icon: the famed subway map.  “This is a lynchpin moment,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber,

The background of the new map is white, which is another way to create more contrast. The previous version has a beige background. Flamm’s map also strips a majority of the details displayed in the background of the MTA’s old map, including the locations of major streets and landmarks. He said they would make the design too cluttered.