The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-14
BRIDGE LOOP PLAN URGED.
COMMITTEE OF n. r. BOARD SAYS
IT'S THE ONLY SOLUTION
Unless the subway Project Can he started
speedily Chief Engineer Rice Sets
Forth the Advantages OF both Schemes
without Prejudice to Either Of Them.


Forth the Advantages OF both Schemes
without Prejudice to Either Of Them.
The Rapid Transit Commissions COM
mittee on plans gave all yesterday after
noon to the consideration OF the problem
OF providing improved travelling facilities
between the Williamsburg and Brooklyn
bridges. The meeting was an executive
one, but II was learned that the committee
agreed to recommend to the commission
that unless the subway plan was likely to
be started speedily the relief called for
ought to be given by means Of the sug-
gested elevated loop.
A report dealing with the situation was
presented by Chief Engineer Rice. Mr..
Rice made no recommendations but devoted
himself to describing the merits Of the
elevated and subway plans. He declared
tina the inadequate means afforded for
crossing the East River had impeded the
growth and development Of Brooklyn. He
went on:
For many years this problem has been
studied In conn ection with the rapid transit
questions. and | have felt that the demand for
better facilities in connection with Brooklyn
is as urgent as any other rapid transit i'm
provement in New York.
A connection by elevated railroad between
the Manhattan ends OF the <
and Brooklyn bridges has been previously
considered, both on Baxter street and also
on Centre street, and | now report on an
elevated railroad connection between the
bridges, which. starting at the Williamsburg
Bridge. passes through Delaney street to
the Bowery, thence through the Bowery
and Park row and North william street to
the Brooklyn Bridge.
Careful surveys OF the elevated structure
as it exists along the Bowery and Park row
have been made. and also designs for a struc-
ture to take care of the travel between the
bridges, which. in my judgment. would be
the most economical and practical. On De-
lancey street IL IL proposed to construct an
elevated railroad with columns about % feet
apart near the curb Of the parkway. occupy
ing the centre Of the street, Along the
Bowery and on Park row IL Ia preferable to
reconstruct the Manhattan elevated structure
which occupies these streets instead Of adj
ding new columns bet ween the existing ones.
which would obst ruct the streets to a larger
extent than il now the case. The structure
would be a double deck one. carrying Man
haitian tracks on the lower deck and the
bridge loop tracks on the upper deck, II be-
ing designed so that the upper portion. with
the columns above the level Of the lower
tracks. could be removed when occasion re-
CURED.
Mr.. Rice estimated that the cost Of the
construction Of this elevated plan would
be about 81 800 900 and that the total cost,
including the damages which would have
to be paid to abuttinR property owners,
would be about 81, $50, 900. He asserted
that the elevated loop could be built, after
the legal consents had been obtained, with
in one year from the time Of letting the con-
tract. Al the last meeting OF the board
George l.. Rives, counsel TO the commits
sion, said IL would take from eighteen
months to two years to obtain these con-
ents.
Describing the subway plans which have
been made to relieve the congested traffic
over the bridges, Mr.. Rice says:
The subway system as laid ont to provide
for the Manhattan and Brooklyn marlborough
travel, with a number Of sta tons Along IL
route. has the advantage of distributing
the passengers in both boron0hs and carry
ing them. within certain limits. to their dcs-
tinations, instead of unloading them Mt one
or at Il few stations a long distance from the
0nai destination Of the greatest number Of
the passengers, which naturally would cause a
con sestion OF traalc at the few stations avail
able.
In the plans submitted I show the subway
lines forming a complete system OF connections
between the two bridges and with provisions
for future connections in the Borough OF
Manhattan, with additional routes betw Per
Manhattan and Brooklyn. namely. on Four
teenLn STREET, hll lhiNs 'h OAtbs III Wei
as at the Manhattan Bridge.
The route for Manhattan Is laid out as
follows:
Beginning at Williamsburg Bridge II passe.
through Delaney street to Centre street,
through Centre street TO Brooklyn Bridge
under Park row to William street and
through william street 10 the neighborhOoC
Of Wall street. ALSO from Centre stteet anC
Grand street through Grand street anC
Desbrosses street to Washin Rton street
through Washington street and Liberty
street TO william street. Also from Centre
street and Canal street through Canal street
TO Wooster street. thence through Wooster
street and Washington Square East and Uni
versity place to Fourteenth street. through
Fourteenth street TO Greenwich street anC
through Greenwich street and Washington
street 10 DeSbrosses street.
Mr.. Rice estimates that the building o
these routes would cost sl6,OS0, 900 anC
that the cost Of a loop connection in Brock
! Ign between the bridges, with provision
TO connect with the future ines from Man
haitian, would be 81, 4SO, 900.