New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-03-12
LORD LANSDOWNE.
A MILLION FOR THE BRIDGE
IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED BY WHICH
THE CRUSH OF TRAFFIC MAY
BE RELIEVED.

The entire remodelling of the New-YorE and
Brooklyn terminals of the Brooklyn Bridge with
loops for the manipulation of elevated bridge
trains is now contemplated by the bridge au-
thorities. The cost will he upward of 81 100000.
and the capacity of the old elevated tracks
will practically he doubled. Instead Of running
800 or GOO feet apart in the rush hours, under
the new plan they will about 260 feet apart
from $40 till $50 o'clock in the evening. Six
car trains will then be possible. The improve
ments. if decided on. will require Il years time
to complete. and by that time the increase in
traffic Will test the capacity of the cars all day
long. they tested in the rush hours at
the present time. The loop expedient is counted
10 accommodate the increasing traffic till the
New East River Bridge relieves IL. The ground
for the proposed improvements will doubtless he
taken from the north side of the Manhattan
terminal. fronting on Park Row. The remodel
ling of the Brooklyn terminal will not be
pensive as on this side as there is plenty of
there.
The traffic so heavy the bridge in the
storm yesterday morning that for time the
Manhattan platform became conges,ed with pas
sengers. Until it cleared incoming trains
had to he tagged and kept outside the station.
While the trains were stalled passengers anxious
to get TO their places OF business pushed their
way through from to and finally man
aged to get out on the roadway. The rain was
falling heavily. and in the crush many women
were drenched and their clothing torn.
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company is
doing all it sSfely and quickly to handle the
enormous traffic the bridge" said President
RossIter to a Tribune reporter yesterday. The
only thing that will help the situation materially
is the remodeIIing Of the terminals. so that loops
can he built for the bridge elevated trains With
a loop at each end six trains could he run
around close To each other. The Manhattan
terminal is perfect botch az present. Streams
of traffic cross each other under the present
rargement. and when the rush rs it's height,
between the hours Of 40 and $50 o'clock there
is a tremendous jam the Manhattan end of
the bridge At $50 o'clock the traffic begins to
he normal again, and at 6:i3 o'clock il is fairly
quiet With a loop system radius Of loo feet
will he required Getting the necessary room is
a bridge engineering problem which | don't care
to discuss now.
Why were the island platforms Abandoned"
Mr.. ROsSter was asked
Chief Engineer Martin peremptOrily ordered
it," said Mr.. Rossiter- He justified in doing
So 7 think. because since we stopped loading
passengers from the island platforms We have
increased the headway of trains one trouble is
the lack of stairWays in the Manhattan terminal.
An application for another large stairway
made in February. and was not acted till to-
day. l understand the application has been
granted.
Il am glad to see the Chamber of Commerce
taking an active interest in the congestion of
traffic over the bridge morning and night. The
railroad company with which l connected
stands ready to do its full part in relieving the
present painful conditions. The more the situ-
alton is investigated by conservative and
competent men the better we like it,"