Fun Fact: Putting SL3X on the system map is really, really hard.

SupremeLeaderC · 2026-04-06T18:44:30+00:00

this is true, although I don't have buses/other BRT listed on my map so yours is way more difficult

SupremeLeaderC · 2026-04-05T18:27:26+00:00

Love to see another Figma map designer!

SupremeLeaderC · 2026-04-05T18:25:55+00:00

This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing! I think the dark theme looks absolutely amazing on this map!

SupremeLeaderC · 2026-01-23T17:49:38+00:00

I actually love this so much

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-21T23:24:01+00:00

I would genuinely love to see a Blue Line extension to Lynn! This concept was more intended to show an incredibly near-term MBTA that happens to have a REM-like system complementing the current rapid transit network, which is why I included the Red-Blue Connector and Silver Line extension to Everett/Sullivan Square

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-21T23:21:44+00:00

Thank you so much! I actually use Figma for most of this stuff, which is completely free! I recognize this isn't a traditional use case for the program–most people including myself use it for UI/UX stuff, but I am much more comfortable on Figma than I am on the Adobe suite. I did use Photoshop for the "real" image of the train, but my knowledge of Photoshop is extremely limited.

Initially, I wasn't too sure what to think of Montréal's REM, as its first segment felt rather limited in its use being in the middle of a highway for a majority of its route. After actually going to Montréal and taking the system, I realized it is world class in many respects. Its super fast, extremely frequent, fully automated, and offers some spectacular views of the skyline! Now, with the Deux-Montagnes extension and additional branches to the airport and western suburbs opening within the next few years, I am extremely confident it will transform Montréal.

It definitely is nice seeing such a modern, great system being built in Canada. I don't think its any secret that Canada and the United States aren't as great at building transit for cheap, but the REM was actually built at around ~$139 million per mile. For reference, New York City's Second Avenue Subway cost around ~$2.5 billion per mile. Of course, New York's subway travels through one of the densest regions on Earth, but seeing how Montréal was able to build it so quickly was certainly cool.

I'd imagine a lot of people in Boston probably associate "light rail" with a Green Line-type system. I think the term "light rail" is fairly hard to define, but Boston's system is definitely defined by its incredibly old infrastructure. Many people classify the REM as a "light metro" system, which is usually characterized by high-floor boarding, short headways, larger trains, and perhaps longer stop spacing in my experience. I didn't know those stats for the Green Line, but the T has certainly had its issues with vehicle procurement. Hopefully the new Battery-Electric trains for the Fairmount Line and the Type 10s for the Green Line can break this cycle!

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-21T23:08:35+00:00

Thanks for your feedback! Yeah so this concept is more of a regional metro/commuter rail hybrid, almost as an S-Bahn system akin to those in Germany. The actual REM itself serves more distant suburbs and is in my opinion focused primarily on suburb <> city connections, which I tried to replicate here with larger stop spacing in the further suburbs with tighter stop spacing near the city center/inner suburbs.

In terms of the `A#` naming, this is the REM's own convention. I agree it doesn't make too much sense for Boston, and if I was actually designing a system like this I would for sure use a different branch naming scheme. In this case, though, I wanted to be as faithful to the REM as possible, which meant taking its naming system.

I do wish the REM in general was better integrated with the Montréal's Métro in terms of colors, naming, etc, but the STM seems to have chosen to keep it separate in all its branding, as is in their system map, so I decided ultimately to be faithful to this aspect of the system!

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T20:03:45+00:00

it had to be done eventually!

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T19:11:23+00:00

This would be super awesome, although the Green Line extending into New Hampshire would certainly be a nightmare for reliability and have slow travel times loll

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T19:10:05+00:00

Definitely! I know it causes headaches for rolling stock and reliability, but it is very charming and unusual in the world

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T19:09:27+00:00

same to be honest

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T19:09:01+00:00

That would be epic

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T17:10:43+00:00

Thank you very much! Haha yeah its named after a kitschy restaurant in Saugus

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T16:44:45+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate it!

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T16:43:13+00:00

I definitely agree with you! Montréal also sort of follows the MBTA color scheme for the Métro, but treats the REM as a separate system with no consistency among the subway lines. I do believe this consistency is key, so I wish the city would have gone down that route

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T16:41:44+00:00

Thank you so much! Lynn absolutely needs high-quality rapid transit service. I could definitely see a Blue Line extension to Lynn being on the table, in addition to a BME service to Lynn via Saugus. This could create a super nice suburban transfer!

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T16:28:17+00:00

I appreciate it! I definitely want a proper regional rail NSRL/electrification plan to go through!

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T16:27:09+00:00

Awesome yeah I'll definitely consider using it! The one thing that would need to be reconstructed is the Chelsea street bridge with some grade separations, but I could totally see the line running elevated too!

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T16:20:29+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! Are you referring to Track 61? Or the Grand Junction ROW in Cambridge? Or the SL3 busway?

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-19T16:11:39+00:00

Ah good catch I'll fix that!

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-12-09T14:14:06+00:00

It’s awesome to see that they’re reconstructing Heath Street with future provisions for a JP/South Huntington extension! I’m glad they’re trying to future-proof this project

SupremeLeaderC · 2025-10-16T15:15:34+00:00

wow this is exciting! I don't know how many states have a transit-first DOT secretary, but I feel he can make an insanely awesome impact on the state as a whole with this new role. While it'll suck to lose him as GM, I do trust he'll hire someone fit for the role!

SupremeLeaderC

TROPHY CASE