Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-09-14
FOR RELIEF OF SMITH STREET

CSiJ Jul "d ''h wv
completion of the new state highway bridge across the Rari-
tan river two or three years hence, it is up to the Perth
Amboy authorities to look into the traffic situation of the
immediate future i'll order to solve the problem that will
confront this city. Even now the condition is serious.
One fact that must not be lost sight of is that when the
new bridge is finished the approach, as far as the traffic
from the Staten Island ferry is concerned, will be from
Smith street instead of Market street. This means that I'M
less some other convenient course is provided, all the traffic
that now crosses the Staten Island ferry every week-e end
will go straight out Smith street, the main business thor
oughfare of the city.
Traffic is becoming harder and harder for every NUM-
cipality to handle. The experts brought here to study the
Perth Amboy situation by the city plan commission have
given this matter first consideration. Sooner or later their
report is going to be laid before the Board of Aldermen and
there is no doubt that it will be well worth studying.
Perth Amboy is seriously handicapped by the lack Of
main arteries leading east and west across the city. There
is Market street and Smith street and then New Brunswick
avenue. But New Brunswick avenue is diagonal rather than
direct and does not meet the requirements. Washington
street is being ruined by the grade crossing elimination and
Hall avenue, while serving the northern section of the city
well enough, is too far from the main business section to be
of use.
There remains, then, jefferson street and Fayette street
for development. In order that the city may be properly
served both of these streets ought to be opened across the
railroad. Fayette street, in particular, offers a solution for
the re1e1 OF 0nltn street. "A glance dI CHe map u Co Guy
shows what a comparatively simple matter it would be to
extend Fayette street, once a railroad crossing is provided,
straight through to Convery place. Fayette street already
furnishes the best approach to the waterfront. With the
widening of Front street from the ferry to Fayette street all
traffic could easily be turned north upon coming off the
boat, through Front street to Fayette and then out Fayette
street direct to Convery place which will be the approach
to the new bridge, without going on Smith street at all.
1t is looking into the future like this and planning now
for the developments that are bound to come in a year or
two that makes a city plan valuable. In a growing city like
Perth Amboy we cannot live in the present only. We have
got to look ahead, and it is particularly necessary that we
look ahead when we know what the development is going
TO be.
This planning for the relief of the traffic on Smith
street two or three years hence is something that ought to
be receiving the attention of the city officials and the city
generally right now. The feasibility of opening Fayette
street straight through from the waterfront to Convery place
ought to be looked into. Smith street, already cOngested,
cannot be expected to carry all the east and west traffic.
Market street runs into a dead end and New Brunswick ave-
nue. leads off into the northwestern section. The Fayette
street development affords one solution to the problem.