Wikipedia:Picture peer review/Portland rail maps

Portland rail maps

I have a created a number of Portland transit maps/diagrams that are in Category:Transportation in Portland, Oregon. I believe these are the most encyclopedic since they are up-to-date and are about rail lines which do not change frequently.

Moreover, unlike the official MAX and streetcar[1][2] maps, they are geographically correct (vs the MAX map) and have stop names (vs the streetcar maps). In addition, as the image pages note, they use official transit agency data for the route paths, stop locations and stop names.

As for the FP criteria I believe that:

Regarding #1, they're in SVG and the code is clean and very small
Regarding #2, they're are set for moderate resolution, but since its SVG, it can be enlarged with no problems and the wiki software is capable of rendering it in (m)any resolutions.
Regarding #3, as noted above, they may be the best maps out there as they have traits that even the official maps lack
4's OK
Regarding #5, they accurately show the extent of the rail lines and all of the stops
Regarding #6, they're based on official data
Regarding #7, the descriptions contain the formulas used to convert the data and make the map

And for another example of a featured transportation diagram, see Image:Chicago top down view.png (nomination)

Lastly, I would upload this at Wikimedia Commons, however I do not have an account there. If someone else wants to move it and the other diagrams there, I would be OK with that as long as they can still be visible in Category:Transportation in Portland, Oregon.

Nominated by: Jason McHuff (talk) 01:10, 12 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Comments

Seconder

Comment: Looks good, I was kind of working on this too, but didn't get as far as you did. Suggestions: mark transit centers, add in the green line, which will be opening soon, and perhaps the orange line as well? It is a map of the MAX, but maybe WES should be included as well? Logan Williams (talk) 20:54, 13 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the comment. Transit centers don't have their own symbol, but stations with them do have "TC" in the name; I suppose I could add "TC = Transit Center" to the legend. Regarding the Green Line & WES, I haven't put them in because a) I don't have official data on them (it might not exist yet) and b) it would make the map much taller. However, if you/others would really like to see them, I could ask if there's any data regarding them or estimate their paths and station locations from aerial photos. Jason McHuff (talk) 06:04, 14 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Comment: Wow! Nice work. The scale of X feet per pixel is hard to apply visually. Maybe show a one or five mile ruler? —EncMstr (talk) 19:42, 19 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Comment: I think that an extraordinary amount of work went into creating these and it's clear that special consideration went into ensuring scalar accuracy. That being said, I think that both products here are extremely difficult to read at anything other than a full-page view. Most transit systems use simplified diagrams to show routes, eliminating extra curves and making stops appear equidistant to make the maps easier to read. Furthermore, the fact that the map is to scale presents challenges in the expansion of the downtown area: the labeling of stops there is somewhat confusing, and a person unfamiliar with the system may not understand that westbound and eastbound stops are separate. If your goal is to create a product that shows the routes exactly to scale, I'd say you've succeeded. However, I think that in order to appeal to the widest audience, a more simplified diagram would be more effective. Continue your diligent efforts, I am completely impressed! Cheers pinotgris 05:04, 6 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Comment: They look great, but you should also incorporate the metric system so that many people reading about Portland from elsewhere in the world will know the distances. Simply add another tick to the "one mile" marker. 60% of a mile is a kilometer. 25 feet is 7.6 meters. Alphalife (talk) 02:05, 16 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This map has been sent to Featured picture candidates. See the discussion on it here. Jason McHuff (talk) 08:26, 13 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]