The New York herald., 1922-05-12

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though the commission has not as. yet
! been informed OF the nature Of their
present plans. The commission is, of
course. prepared to enter into any man.
ner Of practicable cooperation that will
give the Borough of Richmond its much
I needed transit relief.
4 The Transit construction commits
sioner predecessor of the Transit. Com
mission. initiated the preparation OF
plans for a rapid transit tunnel as early
as May. 1920. at which time an appro-
rriation of $4,000 was made by the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment to
provide for the incidental surveys and
explorations necessary to the develop
lment of more detailed designs and the
selection OF a place for the proper tunnel
crossing. At the time of the passage Of
the act of 1921 this work had been ad-
vanced considerably. but 1t was stopped
when the Board of Estimate cut out the
appropriation covering it, which the
Transit Commission had inherited. II
seems not improbable that il the Fort
Hamilton route be chosen a plan might
be agreed upon under which the freight
and rapid transit tunnels can be built at
the same time, with consequent saving
In the net cost of each.
',D The Broadway Fourth avenue
line. now operated by the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company to Fitty-nnth
street, Manhattan. is four>track trunk
line running from Eighty-sxth street
and Fourth avenue in Brooklyn over
and under the East river by way of the
Manhattan bridge and the Whitehall
tunnel and via Broadway and Seventh
avenue. north. The southern terminal
of this rine is already supplied with
more branches than the trunk tracks
can properly accommodate, but the
northern extremity has but one collect :
ing and distributing branch the two
track line through Fifty-ninth and
Sixtieth streets to the greensboro plaza.
The other two tracks of the trunk line
are dead ended at Fifty-nnth street.
For this reason workward In the morn .
ing and homeward at night. during the
rush hours, only half of the capacity of
the line is developed from the northern
terminal.
Passengers using the Brooklyn sys-
tenn are, moreover. unable to pass north
OF Fifty-ninth street without paying an
additional fare at an Interborodgh sta
tion. 1t is proposed, therefore. to build
another two track extension from
Seventh avenue north under Central
Pork West and the park to 10th
street, and thence via Seventh avenue
to 155th street and Eighth avenue. A
already been constructed. This extern
sion would provide. in effect. another
north and south line for the full length
of Manhattan Island. 1t would relieve
very materially the Ninth and Sixth
avenue lines of the Manhattan Elevated
Company. as well as the Lenox avenue
branch OF the original subway between
10th street and the Harlem river.
Furthermore, it would hasten the
time when the Sixth avenue elevated
line may be removed from the street.
This line at present adds practically
nothing to the capacity OF the city's
rapid transit facilities. 1t adds only to
the convenience of the passengers using
IL. and its removal from the street
would provide the most immediate out
let possible for the sort OF development
that is now overstraining Fifth avenue.
Another incidental advantage of this
extension would be that the surface
tracks upon Central Park West may
be more readily removed. as the sub :
way would provide virtually the same
service-and the released surface Of
the street thereupon transformed into a
westerly park boulevard
"The approximate cost OF the Central
Park West Seventh avenue extension
would be $26,500. 900. and the time con-
sumed in construction three and one
half years.
Crosstown subway I'm BROOKLYN.
"(5) The so-called Brooklyn cross
town line was originally projected as an
elevated when the dual system was laid
out. but its construction was deferred
because of local objection to elevated
construction and because OF tho fact
that the city's resources for the more
expensive alternative of subway build
ing had then been exhausted. II is the
opinion of the commission that the lire
should be built az a subway without
further delay--hrst, as means OF
articulating all OF the rapid transit lines
at present traversing Brooklyn and
Queens. so that any one of these can be
reached conveniently and quickly from
any other one second as means OF
access TO the shore front OF Brooklyn
and Queens north OF the navy yard
and, third. az direct means OF carry
ing passengers from Manhattan and
Queens to Brooklyn and Coney Island
without traversing the congested district
OF lower Manhattan.
l"Such n line will tend further to de-
centralize traffic By building UP another
prosperous business thoroughfarc north
and south In Brooklyn, and will save the
Queens traffic bound for Brooklyn fr,u
long detour through Manhattan.
Through Long Island City the line
will follow Jackson avenue. one OF the
widest and most important thorough
fares in the business section OF Queens.
! Through the Greenpoint section OF
Brooklyn II will follow Manhattan ave-
nue.. the principal business street OF that
section and thence through Roebling
street. Williamsburg and by the cutting
OF new street. OF about three blocks IN
length. from Roebllng street TO Bedford
avenue. and thence to connection with
tho Brighton Beach line at Fulton street
and Franklin avenue. Tn It's progress
it would furnish points OF transfer to the