The Lost Subways of North America

A new book by Jake Berman, The Lost Subways of North America explores the history of unbuilt and discontinued transit in 23 cities in the United States and Canada. Mexico is not included because "Mexico's urban history is so unlike that of the United States and Canada." 

Cities are divided into four categories, pre-automobile, automobile era, Canadian cities (they mostly avoided downtown freeways and followed a different urban pattern) and smaller systems of historic interest such as Rochester, the only city (known to the author) to build a subway and then abandon it. The book contains many maps drawn by the author using "period-influenced design and typography". Berman set up a website where you can view and purchase these maps. Here is one example showing the 1945 New Orleans streetcar network with a fake ad for war bonds.

Here is an example of Cleveland's proposed downtown loop which was never completely constructed. "The bonds were issued, and the voters approved, but the County Engineer did as much work as possible to make sure that highways were built instead." 

The current system maps are shown with a more modern looking design.

Look for your favorite transit system here.