New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
Plans to Double
Subways for
$35O,OOO,OOO
City Transit Construction
Commissioners Outlines
Proposals for Extending
System i'm 25.Year Period
Involves Five Boroughs
Provides for 5000, 600, 900
Passengers a Year With 2l
More Two-Track Tunnels

Plans for the enlargement and ex-
tension of the cty-owned rapid transit
system, to be worked out in a period
of twenty-five years, which would
double the track mileage of the pres
ent subways~ at an estimated cost of
1856, 100000 at present prices, or $175,-
100000 at pre-war prices, were an
nounced yesterday by John H. Delaney,
Transit Construction Commissioner.
The plans have been prepared by
Daniel L. Turner, chief engineer of the
commission. Details of the scheme will
be printed in pamphlet form for sug-
gestions and criticisms from the roper-
ating companies, engineers and civic
organizations generally.
The plans cover all the five boroughs
and provide Richmond with its first
rapid transit facilities by means of
tunnels under the Narrows, which will
connect with the southern extremity of
the existing Fourth Avenue subway
line. The scheme contemplates twenty
one additional two-track tunnels, con-
Meeting Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens.
Brooklyn and Richmond. 1t is planned
to develop a capacity of approximately
5000 100000 passengers a year, COM
pared with about 1883 100000 passen-
gers carried on the rapid transit lines
during the fiscal year ended June
80, 1920.
In discussing the plans Commits
sioner Delaney said:
"As laid down in general terms, the
program for transit development is in
tended to take care completely of the
.oitys needs as long as it is con-
fined within its present boundaries.
And definite program is suggested for
the next twenty-five years, as such needs
can now be forecast, and studies have
been made in order that municipal
growth may not be retarded in any
direction and for the prevention of alb
normal and congestcd conditions in
certain sections of the city and stran-
gulation OF growth in other areas. 1t
is intended that the transit plan and
the general city plan for new thor-
oRghfares and highway improvement
shan be co6rdinated so that the best
results may be obtained. New routes
I'm outlying sections are proposed in
several areas, with the idea that as
new streets are laid out the projected
thoroughfares shall be wide enough to
permit Of construction OF rapid tran
slt lines through such streets, or that
separate rights of way for transit lines
to be constructed either above ground,
IN open cut or by subway, may be pro-
vided while land values arc reasonable
enough to make the acquisition of spe-
eaal rights-of-way possible at minimum
csSt-
In the proposed routes for the COM
plete program provision is made for
adding $50 single track miles to the
present rapid transit facilities Of the
eaSy, which now aggregate approx
mateiy 616 miles Of single track elevated
and subway lines. Projected lines and
extensions to the existing lines wher-
ever they may originate in outlying
boroughs. are laid out to enter and
traverse the heart of the city, which,
from the, transit viewpoint, is the eight
square miles in the section of Man
haitian south of Central Park between
Second and Tenth avenues. The plan
contemplates the addition of forty-two.
s1ngle-track river crossings to the thir-
sy-fou1 single-trac river crossings
provided in the existing dual transit
system All Of the proposed crossings
Will be By means OF tunnels. In the
new project will be twenty-one addi-
tional tWo-track tunnels connecting
Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brook
lyn and Richmond.
No Close Cost Estimate Possible Now
mo close estimate of the cost Of con-
struction Of the enlarged transit sys-
tenn is possible at present, and it is not
intended that the comprehensive scheme
as laid out in its entirety will be un-
dertaken at once, but that it should be
proceeded with gradually and contin-
uoosly. AT pre-war prices, it is esti-
mated that the lines contemplated in
the suggested program would cost ap-
proximately $175,0OO,0OO. At present
pricess however, it IS estimated that
this cost would mount to $35O,O0O,oOO
exclusive of equipment, interest curing
construction, engineering and supe1in-
tendence.
"For the twenty-five year program,
based on present day utilization of
tracks and present type of equipment,
the proposed additional trunk lines
would be able to develop a capacity Of
approximately o00,OO00 900 passengers
per year. The rapid transit traffic for
the fiscal year ended June 80. 1920, was
approximately ,333,ooO,000 passengers,
as against total traffic for 1913. the
year the dual contracts were signed, of
slo,OOO,OO0 passengers. The growth of
tFame per annum has been constantly
greater than the per capita growth Of
the city per annum. The new transit
~'T yoq aooe some valuable keopsake9
~ ,Iry Lost and Found Ad in The rrihunn
6nohe 6eekman 3000.-Advt