The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-30

buSSeE for trolley SerVlce utsoLaE ab Waterville is concerned, is so con- fusing to many local residents, due to the changing of announced plans, that this correspondent has en- deavored to obtain a review of the entire situation and to present to the readers the facts as they appear at this time.
 Early in February, when the Con- necticut Railway and Lighting com- pany petitioned the public utilities commission for permission to sub- stitute busses for trolleys on every line in the city 1t was planned to replace the Willow street line which serves Waterville with two bus routes. One was to proceed up into the section in the vicinity of Wil- low, Wentworth and Fiske streets, but this was withdrawn; and the other called for a route to Water vile through Willow, Pine, Colum- bia Boulevard, Pennington avenue, Melbourne terrace, Boulevard ex- tension, Edgehill avenue, Cooke street and Homer street to Dwight, looping back over Dwight to Edge hill and reversing the route to Wa terbury. No definite plans were ari- nounced at that time for caring for the Waterville area north of Homer street, except for trips to the fac- tories during the busy hours. Fol- lowing objections from residents on Pine street and the Boulevard, the plans for that route were changed to call for the route to follow the present car line through Willow street and RoSeland avenue to the boulevard, then turning north on the latter street and following the remainder of the proposed new route.
 Route Described
 East side Waterville residents liv- ing in the area involved held a meeting last month at which the 1 manager of the trolley company was present to answer questions and describe the route. The meeting had been called after Overlook and I Pennington avenue residents had registered strong objections to the routing of the busses over their streets. It was obvious to the Wa tervolle residents that, since the use | of the private right of way, now used by the trolleys north of Overlook station, was not possible at this time since the revenue to be ob- tained from the service could not | justify necessary expense to convert it into proper type of highway for bus operation, they must support the pttition of the trolley company to approach Waterville over Farming to navenue and Melbourne terrace or possibly lose the service. The group was, therefore, represented at the hearing before the utilities com mission with this purpose in view At the hearing the objections of the boulevard residents were removed by the agreement of the trolley com- pany to put into shape the short private right of way in the rear o1 Kingsbury school, thus enabling busses to follow the present trolley route to Overlook. Pennington ave- nue residents were unanimous in their strenuous objection to their street being included in the route. in spite of the fact that the in- convenience to a score of residents in that area might seriously impair adequate service to more than five hundred Waterville families. It was also pointed out that the sharp turns on Melbourne terrace offered serious hazards to motor bus opera tion.
 Route Surveyed
 The commission sent its engineers to Waterbury to look over the sit- uation and the proposed route was carefully studied. At the same time other suggested routes were also gone over. These included an ap- proach to Waterville from Overlook. over Calumet, Willow and Water vile streets to Faber avenue and thence to Edgehill and olng the rest of the originally proposed route. An other called for a route over Willow, l Johnson and Waterville streets to Faber avenue and as above. Still another provided for the route over West Main street and ThomaSton avenue to Homer street to Dwight, with loop swing to the south over Dwight, Edgehill and Cooke street and back to Homer street.
 In connection with the last named route it was pointed out that no provision was made for residents north of Homer street and it was suggested that the bus upon its ar rival back at the corner of Dwight and Homer streets, loop to the north over Dwight, Wheeler and Hanover streets to Boyden, thence west through the Boyden street railway arch and through the park to the corner of Boyden street and Thon1- aston avenue. Residents of Dwight and Wheeler streets entered objec- tions to this suggestion, due to the fact that the level stretch of Dwight street, north of Homer, is reason- ably safe place for children and that the bus might provide a serious hazard. They pointed out that Han- over street to Bayden, the route used by the original trolley line would be as satisfactory and less hazardous. The Dwight Wheeler route was originally suggested since it was felt that more convenient service could be extended at the cor ner of Dwight and Wheeler streets to the heavily populated area at the upper end of Wheeler street and to ] that section of Boyden and Harvard streets which uses the private pass way from Boyden to Wheeler.
 Little Objection
 At the moment the manager of the trolley company reports that there appears to be little serious ob- jection to approaching Boyden street from Homer street over Han over street. A few residents have suggested that the route follow the