Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-11-15
UNION station
PLAN FAVORED
City Plan Commission En-
dorSeS Action Taken by
State st. Association
MEETING LAST NIGHT
MEETING LAST NIGHT
Grade Crossing Elimination
Discussed at Length 9th
er Matters Acted on

erection of a more centrally located
union station to replace the exist
ing Central railroad depot was pre-
sented at the meeting of the city
planning and zoning commission
held at the city hall last night The
letter was from the State and
Washington Street Taxpayers AS
sociation and set forth in detail the
advantages of such a structure. The
statement was a copy of a similar
communication presented to the
Board of Aldermen at the last meet
ing of that body.
The letter pointed out that while
the present station was sufficient
for the needs of ;he city forty-five
years ago whan Perth Amboy had
a population of 900. the structure
was entirely inadequate in view of
the great increase in population
and industry since rs erection. The
first fault found with the station
was its non-central location. 1t
was contended ty the association
that large and adequate union
terminal could be maintained at
little more than the cost of keep
ing the many stations in existence
now.
In discussing the location of the
projeced station the association sup
ported the selection of the spot at
the point of Intersection of the Le-
high Valley. the Central and the
Pennsylvania Railroad, between
Washington street and New Bruins
wick, avenue. 1t was maintained
that the railroads own enough land
for the purpose at that point that the
location would be rearer to the CEN
tre of population, and that the site
was quite in line as the proposed
high level viaduct at Washington
street. A further point made was
that the new site would be advan-
tageous in the event of the actual
construction of the wharves here or
of a tunnel across from Staten Is
land.
The tunnel would of necessity
cross the sound opposite this posi-
ton, the letter continued, in view of
the location of the Staten Island
railroad and the fact that no sharper
turn toward that tunnel could be
de by that road should it be in
cluded in the belt line recently pro-
posed by the New York Board of
Estimate. Ten years from now. ac-
cording to the communication, all
roads leaving Perth Amboy could
go north. south and west as at pres
ent and. in addition. eastward to the
wharves built and to the opposite
side of Staten Island.
The State and Washington street
association said it had been trying
to interest the Lehigh Valley rail-
road in the union station PROPOSE
ton on account of the proposed
ferry to have a Perth Amboy ter
minus above the Public Service pow
erhouse. For six months an effor.
to interest the Lehigh Valley and
the Baltimore & Ohio railroads in
combination ferry. the letter con-
tinued. Under the terms of the pro-
position the Lehigh Valley would
give the land north of the power
house and receive in return what
freight and passenger service as
might come with the ferry.
Another point made by the asso-
ciatioln was the fact that the present
Lehieh Valley freight station would
be at a disadvantage with the de-
preston of the tracks as proposed
now and that another site will be
needed for the freight handling.
After discussing the project the
commission went on record in a
resolution as in favor of the con-
struction of a union station. The
resolution did not state, however.
where the station should be erected.
Members of the commission were in
favor of the location of a union
station farther up in the city. real
sons given including distribution of
business. lessening of traffic on
Smith street and the general benefit
of having one station in or near the |
center of the city.
President Adolph Greenbaum ap- |
pointed Louis p. Booz and MAIDS !
Madsen as a committee TO request !
an appropriation of $500 for the |
coming year.
In commenting on the fact that |
much of the s2.500 appropriation /
of this year would be turned back |
10 the city. Mr. Greenbaum said it l
did not indicate that the $500 i
asked for next year would not be /
necessary. The resson the whole
fund was not spent was that since 4,
II was the first year of the exist
ence of the commission IL had been /
thought best TO go slowly and look
around a bit before doing too much /
in the way of reorganization of the /
city plan as it stands now. accord
ing to President Greenbaum-