New-York tribune., 1913-11-09
TO HAVE SIX TRACKS
Greensboro Bridge To Be
Equipped for Dual Subway.
100000 IS TOTAL COST
Will Greatly Benefit Transit
Zone, Where Apartments
Are Being Built.

Are Being Built.
Greensboro Bridge will be equipped
without delay for operation of dual sub
way rapid transit trains. Chief Engineer
Johnson. of the Department of Bridges.
completed plans for the work last week.
and Bridge Commissioner O'Keefe has
submitted TO the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment his application for the
S3.000000 necessary to pay the cost The
huge span will be ready for the running
Of trains before the Public Service Com
mission can complete the stations of the
two approaches Of the railroad construc-
ton through the Queens territory. 1t is
possible that the bridge may be used for
the operation of part of the dual lines be-
fore the entire system is ready for COM
plete service.
Members Of the Board OF Estimate
have understood for a long time just
what advances of money we shall need
for progress of the work on Greensboro
Bridge" said Chief Engineer Johnson
yesterday, land they are disposed to pro-
vide the funds promptly, as we may need
them. or course, there is no hurry with
the undertaking. because the Public Sor-
vice Commission has eighteen months III
which TO furnish the railroad lines 10
both ends of the bridge and also the big
stations at those approaches. The bridge
will not be called upon for use before
those lines and the stations can be COM
pleted but we intend to have il fully
ready. so that no delay in rapid transit
service can come from our end of the
work"
Chief Engineer Johnson's plans provide
for six tracks across the bridge. Their
total passenger carrying capacity will be
l77oO0 persons an hour in each direction.
The trackage will be of the double deck
type. with four tracks on the lower tier
and two above. The construction will be
arranged so that two more tracks may be
placed on the upper tier. thus increasing
the number OF tracks to eight and the
total carrying capacity TO more than Oo.-
900 passengers an hour in each direction.
The two upper tracks will be used for
the extension of the Second Avenue ele-
waited railroad service. The four lower
tracks will be for the subway trains and
the trolley lines which now run over the
bridge. This trolley service will not be
interrupted during construction of the
larger transit system.
The six tracks across the bridge will
offer facilities 25 per cent larger for NOV
ing passengers than those Of the Brook
lyn Bridge, which have been handling the
greater part of the Brooklyn travel, with
it's population close to 100000. 1t is esti-
mated that the greensboro Bridge track
age could provide amply for all the traf-
fic requirements OF a Queens population
of 100000. In conjunction with the Stein
way tunnel, the facilities for transporting
passengers across the East River from
Queens will be sufficient for a Queens
population Of 100000. This provides for
more than eight times the present popu-
lation of the borough and, according to
the best experts, indicates the rapid In
crease in Queens population prophesied
by them.
Greensboro Bridge was designed and
built mainly to carry the rapid transit
lines that are to open the wide Queens
territory for New York home builders
The general plans were submitted to the
Secretary of War for approval on Decem-
Ter 2. 1899. approved on February q, 1901.
and construction of the piers was started
on July ls of the same year. The bridge
was opened for pedestrians and vehicles
on March 30, 1909, after sll.974,4 400 had been
expended upon the constitutional con-
tracts Surface cars were run over IL for
the first regular service on September 49,.
1909
The total length of the bridge from the
east side Of Second avenue, in Manhat-
tan. TO Jackson avenue, in Long Island
City. including Queens Bridge plaza. Is
s.Sol feet Its clear height over the East
River is 135 feet
The 100000 required 10 equip the
structure for the dual rapid transit sub
way service will not all be expended upon
the bridge itself. Much of it will go for
completion Of the viaduct approaches In
Queens and for the plaza construction at
both ends of the structure.
Plans for the Manhattan plaza and ap-
proaches have been tha last completed by
Bridge Department engineers. The plaza
scheme could not be undertaken until
there was certainty in regard TO the
rapid transit lines which could use the
bridge. The plaza, as proposed In the
final plans, is devised TO AFFORD ample
TRANSPORTATION facilities for the operation
OF both rapid transit and streetcar sur
face lines.
The Bridge Department plan contem-
plates the acquisition by the CITY, OF the
block bounded by Second and Third ave-
nues, bsth and 6oth streets. The surface
Of the block is TO be laid out as park,
and beneath 1t will be station for the
trolley railway cars running into Manhat-
tan from Queens.
Elevated railway trains OF the Second
avenue line must have free headway
across the bridge, and the westbound
track of the structure. which will join the
elevated railway with the bridge has been
planned 10 cross above the level OF the