New-York tribune., 1920-01-18
Joint H. Delaney

John vi. Oelaney
TroHs;t Construction Commissioner
Unless labor troubles intervene, the
year 1920 will witness larger increase
in rapid transit facilities than has been
registered at any time since the ini-
tiation Of the city's transit program
six years ago. Present indications are
that there will be sixty-nine and half
track miles added to the city's rapid
transit facilities during the coming
year.
Rapid transit construction work went
steadily forward during the previous
year. Although labor conditions were
at times acute and the prices Of mate
rial mounted steadily during the year
tho passenger service over the Inter
borough Rapid Transit lines was in
creased by 1877 track miles and the
mileage Of the New York Municipal
system expanded 1896 miles. total in
crease Of 1913 track miles. There are
thirty-seven construction contracts, in
volving approximately $4,000 900, un-
der way in the various boroughs at the
present time. About $10,000,00O worth
of work WAS done on these during 1919
and $10,000,000 worth remains to be
done before completion. All current
contracts except those involved In the
construction Of the so-called Fourteenth
Street-Eastern District line, extending
from the vicinity Of Union Square,
Brooklyn, will be completed before the
end Of the year, according to present
observations.
Year
In addition 70 the rhunicipally owned
lines, on which construction will be
completed during the coming year, the
Interborough company will complete
snd open to trafac it's Webster Avenue
extension Of the Third Avenue IL" line
in the Bronx. This extension will pro-
vide facilities from Fordham Road and
Webster Avenue to Gun Hill Road at
White Plains Avenue, distance Of one
and three-fourths miles. The extension
is three-txacked and will have stations
at 200th Street, 204th Street and at
Gun Hill Road.
Present indications are that the ex-
tension of the Broadway-Fourth Ave-
nue. line through the Montague Street
tunnel to Brooklyn, and tho extension
Of the same line from the station at
to Queensboro Plaza, as we'll as the
extension Of the Culver line from Ave-
nue K to Coney Island, will DO COM
pleted and ready for traffic in April
next. The finish Of these extensions
will mark the legal beginning Of the
so-called permanent period of tho con-
tract between tho city and the New
York Municipal Corporation, and tho
initiation Of single fare over all lines
Of the New York Municipal system be-
tween Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn
the Broadway-Fourth Avenue line
through the Sixtieth Street tunnel to
Queens Plaza will also make possible
the operation Of Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit Company trains over the Corona and
Astoria branches Of the Interborouxh
''L" lines in Queens. This will bring
about Joint operation over 1914 track
miles in that borough and will give its
residents the option Of using either the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit or the Inter
borough system.
Brighton Line Through Manhattan
With the opening Of the Montague
Street Tunnel the reconstructed Bright
on Beach service will be extended with
out change through the heart Of Man
haitian. The reconstruction work OF
the Brighton Beach division will <be
completed about the same time 40 tht
tension IN Brooklyn.
Eastern Parkway Subway Next summe,
Work on the Eastern Parkway ant
Nostrand Avenue subway lines an,
the Livonia Avenue III" line in Brook
~ ~l- ~
it can be predicted with reasonable Ger
tainty that the Eastern Parkway Nos
trand Avenue routes will be opened II
midsummer and the Livonia Avenu
az" in the fall. The Eastern Parkwa,
line will increase the Interboroush'
facilities In Brooklyn by 1906 tracl
miles, the Nostrand Avenue line b,
b.68 miles and the Livonia Avenue lin
BY l.91 miles. The stations at At
lantic Avenue, Bergen Street., Seventl
Avenue, Plaza, Kingston Avenue. Nos
per cent completed and the station un
dor Franklin Avenue II more than s
per cent completed. On the Nostrari
Avenue line all seven stations ar
more than 30 per cent completed at tn
present time. Work on the Livoni
Avenue IL" was suspended during tn
latter part Of the year because Of tn
default Of the contractor who had tn
contract for steel erection. A ne
contract has been prepared, howeve
and work will be resumed within thr<
weeks.
During tho year the city purchased
large tract at New Lots, HeRsman an
Lawrence avenues, Elton and Linvoc
streets. to be used 40 storage and r,
pair yards for tho Eastern Parkway On
1dvonia Avenue system. Contracts fc
tho building Of the storage yard vi
De awarded early in the coming year.
Now /. r. T. in Bronx Soon
Extensions Of the Interborourh see
ton Of the city-owned limo Win b
opened in the Bronx during the sun,
lnef. The most important Is tho Pei
ham Bay Park branch Of the Westches
ter Avenue line, extending from tn
junction Of Westchester Avenue an
Bronx River to Pelham Bay Parl
embracing 11.97 track miles. This In
three-tracked IL" road. With eleve
stat4ons, extending through tho Of
Villages Of Westchsster, Unlonport an
Van NoSt. The terminal Of the I'm
IS at tho Junction Of Pslham parkvs
nth Pelham Bay Park and within
few hundred yards Of the shore o
Eastchester Bay. The north srly teY
minus Of the Whits Plains "ir road /
the Bronx also Will be opened durin
the year. Bids for this work and 10
ards It white Plains Road AN and sga' 23st
street were opened last week. Al
ths work had been contracted for thre
Lxxk 4 L. e. a.