New Britain herald., 1928-05-24
Public Utilities Commission De.
mics Petition Of Highway Dept.
for East Street Change
NOT DANGEROUS ENOUGH
NOW TO WARRANT COST
frrp,> cj Expenditure Not In Keep
ing With Degree " Danger. state
Board Finds In Response to Flea
u, Commissioner Macdonald. Who
Planned New Through Highway
in \Ci:hborinG Town.
Especial to the Heraldl

pisin>llle, May c4.-The petition
o. Highway Commissioner John a.
Macdonald and the New Haven rail-
road for the elimination OF the East
street grade crossing here was de-
MED yesterday by the public utilities
commission. according to notification
received today by the board OF Sc
lectmen. The commission cited as
its reasons it's beliefs that the cross
ing was not dangerous enough to
warrant the expenditure necessary
for its elimination and that all plans
presented would damage local prop
erty and interests.
The elimination Of the crossing
was asked by the highway depart
ment and the railroad early in the
year. Commissioner Macdonald en-
planning that il the petition were
granted the state intended to i'm
prove East street and include it as
a part Of the trunk line highway
known as Route 3 and the college
Highway" This was intended to
tlN Cl tIdlliN
the congested center Of the town.
A hearing vas held in the state
capitol at Hartford on January IS
and, after prolonged discussion. was
adjourned until February 20. when
another lengthy session was held
At these hearings Commissioner
Macdonald presented two plans for
the crossing elimination and two
others we're offered by Engineer Jo-
seph \. Mckernan Of Plainville.
Would Elevate Street
The original plan OF the highway
commissioner called for the eleva-
'tion OF the street. so that it would
cross the railroad tracks above
grade, and the raising OF Woo.ford
| avenue 10 the level of the southern
ramp thus required. He later modi-
fled this project so as to bridge
| Woodford avenue and the trolley
line thereon. Mr.. Mckernan suE-
2ested the virtual abandonment of
the present East street in order that
the property there would not be
damaged by embankments, and he
proposed to cut new and elevated
thoroughfare through vacant lots to
the west Of the street His plans
differed slightly in the approaches.
The plans called for the outlay OF
sums varying from $s7.5ss to $780,
600, exclusive OF property damages,
amounts considered excessive by the
public utilities commission. The
town also objected TO paying a share
IN such an expensive project and
First Selectman James Simpson sug-
sested that the grade crossing be
allowed TO remain but that it be
safesuarded by warning signals and
24-hour gateman. A petition to
this effect was presented by num-
Der OF property owners in the Vi
cinlty affected. claiming the eleya-
tlon OF the crossing would seriously
damage their land and would great
y injure the East Main street bust
ness section.
Commissions Statement
The stand of the public utilities
commission is expressed as follows
in its decision
petition was presented signed
by numerous property owners. busi-
ness men. and residents of the town,
opposing the elimination on the
ground that much valuable property
would be taken or made inaccessible
and that the local interests and In
dustrlcs would be separated by a
barrier. The trunk line highway
system is promulgated and being
developed primarily for the accom-
modation OF intrastate and interstate K
travel. Local interests will or
dinarily have to give way to the
more important general public re-
Hulrements, but. In satisfying those
public requirements. local interests
should he protected as far as rea
sonably possible.
The basis Of this petition IL the
question Of danger at the crossing
and danger is question Of DEGREE,
because danger turks in a greater or
less degree at all grade crossings rs
well as along the curves and in
tersecting points Of hiehways and