The New York herald., 1922-05-12
Moving Platform at Forty
second st. and B. r. Z.
Line to 155th st.
EXTENSION TO FLUSHING
Staten Island Tube Promised
Central Brooklyn to Get
Cr0sstown Line.

The Transit Commission made pub
lie yesterday details of it's program
for new subway construction, involv-
ing an outlay of approximately $21S,-
10000 for construction and an ad-
ditional 100000. 900 for equipment of
the new lines, including rolling stock,
power houses and signalling devices.
In the advancement of the city's
rapid transit facilities these plans
mark the most important step taken
since the signing of the dual con-
tracts in 1913. The additional lines
projected touch directly the transpor-
tation problem of every borough, and,
whe., completed, will girdle them all
with subway lines. They will add to
present resources 1855 miles of new
subways, with S4.2o miles of trackage.
Since the signing of the dual con-
tracts nine years ago. although these
practically doubled the city's rapid
transit facilities, the traffic demand. due
to the city's growth. already has more
than doubled. Hence the commission
in describing its extensive program,
emphasizes the vital Importance of te-
ginning as soon as possible actual work
upon each of the new routes. To have
kept pace even approximately with shr
demand, it is pointed out. a conpre-
hensive new construction program
should have been begun five years ago.
Five Months OF imtnaries.
Approval Of routes by the city al
ministration and its cooperation IN
financing the vast project are essen
tiaI. Public hearings must be held br-
fore the actual letting Of contracts NAV
proceed. These preliminaries probably
will consume at least from five 10 sss
months and it will require years after
approval before operation can be begun.
An accurate outline of tho seven
major features of the construction pro-
gram was presented last Sunday by
THE NEW YORK HERALD. AS indicated
then, features of especial interest ana
Importance in Manhattan include 2
moving sidewalk under Forty-seconc
street, to be extended ultimately from
river to river. and a west side trunk
line the entire length Of the islano,
chiefly beneath Eighth and Amsterdam
avenues.
The last named route which is TO be
built in sections. will be ultimately the
greatest underground line in the world.
1t is to be an eight track road, operat-
ing upon two levels. with a capacity vir-
tually double that of either of the pres
ent four track trunk lines.
Another important Manhattan feature
Is the extension of the b. r. It's Broad
way-Seventh avenue subway under Gen.
155thy street. The eventual removal of
thg-Sfxth avenue elevated structure. as
we'll ss the surface car tracks In Cen
trail Park Mcst--a reform that has been
much agit. .ed--are forecast. The Forty
second street crosstown surface route
also is marked eventually for the dis
card.
Brooklyn Is to get the facilities she
has clamored for, and a tunnel connec-
tlon with Staten Island. while Queens
profits by having the long sought extern
sion from Corona to Flushing placed In
a position of precedence In the prospec-
tus issued by the commission.
The Statement I'm Full.
The statement made by the Transit
Commission follows in full:
provision for the building OF new
subways is one OF the most important
Of the duties with which the Transit
Commission Is charged. The orders
issued or to be issued by the commits
sion for increasing service on the exist.
ing lines as rapidly as the financial
condition OF the operating companies
permits will. for the time being, afford
a substantial degree OF relief. But
these measures are pailiatives only and
do not solve the problem. The growth
OF the rapid transit traffic, which In
creases daily. has been upon an enor-
nous scale. The new lines provided
under the dual contracts which more
than doubled the mileage of the origi-
nal subway and elevated system. have
been open but few years and are
already crowded TO capacity.
Under the highly congested condi-
tions of 1918. the year in which the
dual contract construction was com
menced, tho Interborough subway alone
carried 3o147l,5i0 passengers. During
the year ended June 20. 1921, the Inter
borough, old and new lines together
carried $50. .3s57s0. The elevated lines
Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany In 1913 carried i625ii05l passcn-
gers. while in 1921. with the system OF
subways allotted to the Brooklyn COM
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