The Routes Not Taken Read online

  access to proposed location of Bronx airport, 78, 85

  discussion of New York, Westchester and Boston Railway committee report, 182

  inclusion in Empire City racetrack plans, 233

  inclusion in Regional Plan Association plan, 167

  inclusion in Westchester County Transit Commission plan, 162

  increase in service, 184

  latter-day proposals for use of old tracks, 254

  removal of New York, Westchester and Boston Railway infrastructure by, 174, 180, 184

  New York State Assembly, 10

  New York State Board of Housing, 93

  New York State Legislature, 159, 168

  New York State Senate, 8, 10

  New York State Society of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, 89

  New York Stock Exchange, 216

  New York, The Wonder City, 87

  New York Times, 1, 2, 6, 32, 38, 82, 93, 94, 202, 216

  New York Times Magazine, 96

  New York World, 39

  New York, Westchester and Boston Railway (W&B), 154, 196, 197

  access to Hillside Houses, 98

  access to Manhattan, 76

  access to proposed Bronx airport, 85

  Bronx Express Truck Highway plan, 106–107, 169, 172–173, 175, 178, 179, 180, 182, 183, 184, 186, 192, 195

  connection with 2nd Avenue line, 93

  connection with White Plains Road line, 180–181

  discussion of city takeover, 181–182, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190

  discussion of connection with Burke Avenue line, 102–103, 104, 105

  discussion of Port of New York Authority study, 183, 185

  efforts to keep W&B operating, 107

  end of service, 169, 171, 175

  financial issues 99–100, 105–106, 107, 181–182, 187, 188, 190

  impact on purchase on Burke Avenue line, 228, 229

  legislation to create operating authority, 170

  negotiations for city purchase, 186

  New Rochelle–Port Chester Branch, 174

  New York, Westchester and Boston Railway Committee (The Ritchie Committee), 171–172, 180, 182, 183, 184, 185

  plans for extension into Manhattan, 160–163

  plans for extension into Queens, 167

  purchase of line by city, 191–193, 194, 195, 228

  removal of railway infrastructure by the New Haven Railroad, 174, 180, 184

  role in development of the Bronx, 75

  New York, Westchester and Boston Railway’s Employee Protective Association, 170

  New York, Westchester and Boston Railway stations:

  Baychester Avenue, 84, 99, 104

  Dyre Avenue, 99, 190

  White Plains, 169

  New York Post and Home News, 233

  Nicoll, Courtland, 131

  Nicoll-Hofstadter Legislation, 131, 132

  1921 mayoral elections, 259

  1929 mayoral elections, 156

  1938 hurricane, 174

  1939–40 World’s Fair, 43, 45

  1949 mayoral elections, 232, 234–235

  1971 Transportation Bond Issue, 221

  1973 Transportation Bond Issue, 222

  1964–1965 Capital Plan, 244

  Ninfo Salvatore, 177, 184, 186–187, 188, 190

  9th Avenue Elevated, 20, 188, 194

  North Beach, 92

  North Beach Airport, 92, 258

  North Bronx Civic Voice, 190

  North Jersey Transit Commission, 6, 159, 160, 163, 164, 166

  North Pelham, 169

  North Queens line, 246

  North Shore Transit League, 68, 74

  Northeast Bronx, 179, 185, 193

  auction of land, 89

  debate in area over Burke Avenue line, 105

  Hillside Houses, 93

  impact of end of New York, Westchester and Boston Railway service, 106, 174–175

  public transit needs, 81, 98, 176, 177, 180, 191, 197

  Northeast Bronx Civic League, 81, 82

  Northeast Queens line, 253

  Nostrand Avenue, 119, 152

  Nostrand Avenue line, 111, 114, 120, 254

  demand for subway along, 2, 118–119

  inclusion of extension in 1929 Board of Transportation plan, 119, 203

  inclusion in “New Routes” plan, 253

  inclusion in Transit Authority plans, 215, 240

  land purchases near route of line, 110

  1952 Board of Transportation capital plans, 238

  proposal to extend line to the Rockaways, 237

  public hearing on 1929 extension plan, 203

  O’Brien, James J., 2

  O’Brien, John P., 8, 95, 96, 97, 135

  O’Donnell, John F., 237

  O’Dwyer, William, 260, 261

  at groundbreaking for Queens Boulevard line extension, 227

  discussion of transit system needs, 211, 213, 227, 228, 229–230

  1945 mayoral elections, 20

  1949 mayoral elections, 234–235

  relationship with Charles P. Gross, 230

  resignation as mayor, 213

  role in fare increase, 231

  O’Grady, Joseph E., 248, 249

  O’Hare, Rev. Patrick, 25, 30

  O’Neill, John T., 220

  O’Ryan, John F., 202–203

  Oetjen’s Restaurant, 119

  Old Burke Mansion, 186, 195

  Olvany, George W., 132

  103rd Street, 63

  111th Street, 63

  125th Street, 107, 162

  170th Street Merchants Association, 80

  “Open Cut” subway construction, 154

  Orr, Alexander E., 1, 28

  Page, Alfred R., 1

  Palmer, George, 25

  Palisades line, 164

  Palma, Joseph A., 186

  Paris, John W., 50

  “Park and Ride,” 250

  Park Avenue, 203

  Park Avenue Improvement Association, 77

  Parkchester, 197, 221, 254

  Parsons, William Barclay, 47, 254, 262

  partnership with Henry M. Brinckerhoff, 155

  plans for East Side trunk lines, 199–200

  role in early system plans, 1, 5–6, 27, 28

  support for Utica Avenue line plan, 115

  Parsons, Herbert L., 34

  Patten, Bernard M., 65

  Patterson, Thomas, 234

  Patterson, Charles L., 245–246, 262

  appointment as TA chairman, 215, 241

  background, 294–295

  death of, 248

  discussion of 2nd Avenue line plans, 215

  on financing for system improvements, 245

  on not connecting Lenox Avenue and Jerome Avenue lines, 244

  on use of 1951 Transportation Bond Issue funds, 216, 243

  proposal for Cross Queens line, 242–243, 253

  Pelham, 106, 183

  Pelham Bay Park, 83, 84, 103

  Pelham Line, 76, 78, 197, 228, 233

  extension to Co-op City, 253

  Pelham Parkway (Bronx and Pelham Parkway), 86, 154

  Pelham Parkway Houses, 234

  Pennsylvania Station, 156

  Periconi, Joseph F., 245

  Peters, Ralph, 63, 64, 65, 67

  Pheifer, Phillip E., 209–210

  Phelps, Albert D., 78–79

  Philip J. Healey, Inc., 204

  Pierce, Loretta M., 179, 183

  Pitkin Avenue, 236

  Plan for New York City and Its Environs, 6, 107

  Planning Commission, New York City, 148

  Pople, George W., 50–51, 52–53, 55, 57–58, 63, 64

  Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 129, 227

  Port Chester, 106, 183

  Port of New York Authority, 129, 131, 163, 167, 182, 183, 185

  1936 plan, 168

  plans for rapid transit on the George Washington Bridge, 164

  Port Richmond, 163, 164

  Postha
uer, Charles, 65, 70

  Powell, Charles U., 53, 58

  Prendergast, William A., 59–60, 152

  Prince’s Bay, 121

  Prospect Park, 32

  Public Service Commission for the First District, New York State, 30

  assessment plans to finance subway constructions, 113, 117–118

  discussion of McAdoo plan; 150–154

  end of control over transit planning, 3

  engineering work for Utica Avenue line, 114

  hearing on Staten Island line, 124

  inception, 2

  planning for Crosstown line, 28, 31

  planning for Flushing line, 47, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59–63, 64–66, 67–68, 70

  planning for Staten Island subway line, 124–125

  planning for Utica Avenue line, 112–114, 116–117

  plans to expand system, 150–151

  proposal for Ashland Place connection, 139

  public hearings on the Crosstown Elevated, 33

  Tri-Borough Plan 4, 28

  Utica Avenue line assessment plan, 113, 116–117

  vote on Flushing line proposal, 60

  Public Service Commission, New York State (modern era), 237

  Quackenbush, James L., 70

  Queens, 19, 133, 148, 178, 196, 205, 245

  in Queens Parkway Line plan, 154–155

  in Regional Plan Association plans, 167

  in Transit Construction Commission plan, 154

  lack of benefit from Crosstown line plans, 39

  needs to meet ridership demands to and from, 41

  1962–1963 Transit Authority capital plan, 245–247

  1963 City Planning Commission plan, 247

  1965 City Planning Commission plan, 250

  opposition in borough to demolition of elevated lines, 206, 209

  plans to extend Crosstown line to, 28

  plans to extend Fulton Street El in, 140

  plans to extend Fulton Street subway to, 137, 141–142, 143, 145–146

  population and growth related to subway system expansion, 47, 48, 211, 232–233, 256

  start of subway service to northern Queens, 67, 68

  Queens Borough Chamber of Commerce, 16, 29, 48, 55, 67, 237, 249

  Queens Borough Hall, 175

  Queens Borough Transit Conference, 2

  Queens Boulevard, 13, 47

  Queens Boulevard Line, 11, 41, 155, 242

  connection with Brooklyn–Queens Crosstown line, 39

  connection with 53rd Street line, 40

  connection with Rockaway Beach line, 15, 16, 247

  construction , 16, 19, 95, 147

  expansion into eastern Queens, 14

  groundbreaking for extension to 179th Street, 227, 229

  impact on population growth in Queens, 232–233, 256, 258

  inclusion in “New Routes” plan, 253

  inclusion of Regional Plan of New York plan, 166

  service demands, 41

  Queens City Transit Alliance, 227

  Queens College, 44

  Queens-Long Island Rail Transit, 250, 253

  Queens Super Express line, 252, 253

  Queens Transit Committee, 243

  Queensboro Bridge, 20, 68, 72, 207, 208

  Queens Parkways line, 154–155, 166

  Queensboro Plaza 28, 36, 167

  Quill, Michael J., 177, 241

  Quinlan, James H., 53, 67

  Quinn, Hugh, 43

  Quinn, Peter, 170, 182

  Rapid Transit Commission, Fifth Brooklyn, 24, 25

  Rapid Transit Commission, First Brooklyn, 23–25

  Rapid Transit Commission, Ninth Brooklyn, 27

  Rapid Transit Commissioners, Board of, 1, 27, 28, 48, 123, 199, 200

  Rapid Transit Committee of Queens, 48

  Rapid Transit Law, New York State, 28, 43, 65, 230

  Ravitch, Richard. 254

  Real Estate Exchange of Long Island, 48, 50

  Reconstruction Finance Corporation, 94

  Regional Plan Association, 6, 107, 108, 167, 182

  Regional Plan of New York, 166

  Rego Park, 242

  Reid Avenue, 115

  Reid, Charles, 76

  Reid, William A., 20, 211, 213, 231–232, 233, 234, 259, 292

  appointment as Board of Transportation chairman, 230

  background, 292

  Rendt, David L., 132

  Rice, George S., 1, 28, 47, 199, 200

  Richardson, Rodman, 70

  Richmond Chamber of Commerce, 124

  Richmond Chapter of Professional Engineers, 134

  Richmond Hill, 253

  Richmond Hill Taxpayers Alliance, 243

  Ridgewood, 13, 257

  Ridgway, Robert, 125, 140

  Riegelmann, Edward J., 138

  Risse, Louis A., 76

  Ritchie, Albert, 173, 179, 183, 184, 185

  Riverdale Avenue, 78

  Robinson, Phyllis, 261

  Rockaways, 14, 113

  Rockaway Beach branch, 14, 252, 295

  approval of purchase, 238

  attempt by LIRR to sell line, 15

  charge of second fare, 238

  discussion of purchase, 16, 236–237

  discussion of which subway line to connect line with, 235–236

  elevation of tracks, 235

  end of LIRR service, 236, 244

  financial issues affecting LIRR operation of line, 235

  future reuse, 244, 254, 262

  inclusion in Coverdale and Colpitts plan, 253

  inclusion in NYCTA 1962–1963 capital plan, 247

  opening of subway service, 243–244

  purchase of line, 216, 238, 259, 261

  Rockaway line (IND), 240

  Rockaway Park line, 243

  Rockaway Review, 235

  Rockefeller, Nelson A., 168, 219, 221, 222, 223

  Rockefeller Institute, 249

  Roe, Clinton E., 67, 68

  Ronan, William J., 217, 218, 219–220, 221, 222, 250

  Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 93, 96

  Roosevelt Avenue, 47, 71, 73

  Roosevelt Avenue Bridge, 71

  Rosenblatt, William, 243

  Rostenberg, Leo O., 169

  Roth, Henry, 112

  Route 52, 60

  Route 119-F, 15

  Route 120, 135

  Route 121, 135

  Route 122, 135

  Route 123, 135

  Rowe, Frederick W., 112

  Rugby, 109, 110, 113, 114, 116, 118, 121

  Rugby Chamber of Commerce, 118

  Rugby Civic Association, 118

  Ruppert, Jacob, 117

  Ryan, Daniel L., 15, 77, 78, 79, 81, 91, 96

  St. Albans, 243

  St. Anthony’s Church, 25

  St. George, 125, 126, 159, 163

  St. George Ferry Terminal, 120

  Sander, Elliot G., 254

  Sartorius, Irving A., 99, 182

  Scannell, Daniel J., 248

  Scheuer, James H., 218, 219

  Schmidt, Frederick G., 169

  Schramek, William E., 107, 170, 172, 179, 182

  Schwab, Anton L., 132

  Schwarzler, August F., 89–90

  Scott, Harry, 169, 182

  Sea Beach line, 123, 154

  Sea Gate, 119

  Seabury, Samuel, 96

  2nd Avenue Elevated:

  connection with Flushing and Astoria lines, 68

  connection with New York, Westchester and Boston Railway, 107

  connection with Pelham line, 76

  demolition of line, 20

  end of service to Queens, 72–73

  hearings on demolition, 188, 207

  impact of construction, 200

  impacts of demolition, 207, 208, 220–221, 258

  support for demolition, 208–209

  2nd Avenue subway, 245, 249

  Brooklyn connections, 205

  calls to change Bronx routing, 221

  calls to change do
wntown routing, 218–219

  Chrystie Street connection, 215, 216–217

  connection at Burke Avenue Line, 198

  construction delays in 1950s and reaction, 215–216

  “Cuphandle” route, 219

  current project, 168, 199, 225

  DeKalb Avenue interchange project, 235

  discussion of by Mayor La Guardia in 1944 message to City Council, 209

  extensions to Queens, 213, 236

  funding issues, 221–223, 232

  groundbreaking for Chinatown segment, 221

  groundbreaking for East Village segment, 223

  groundbreaking for uptown segment, 221

  inclusion in Board of Transportation plans, 205, 242

  inclusion in Coverdale and Colpitts plan, 217

  inclusion in Manhattan East Side Alternatives Study, 224–225

  inclusion in “New Routes” plan, 217–218

  inclusion in 1929 Board of Transportation plan, 11, 84, 86, 89, 203, 256

  inclusion in 1932 Board of Transportation plan, 186, 205

  inclusion in 1944–1948 and 1945 Board of Transportation postwar plans, 209–211

  inclusion in 1947 Board of Transportation plan, 211–212, 230

  inclusion in 1948 Board of Transportation plan, 233

  inclusion in 1950 Board of Transportation plan, 213, 236

  inclusion in 1952 Board of Transportation plan, 238

  inclusion in 1954 Transit Authority plan, 240

  inclusion in Transit Authority plans, 242, 243

  issue in 1949 mayoral elections, 234

  protests over number of stops, 219–221

  service to Hillside Houses, 93

  stop of work on East Village segment, 224

  “Second Avenue Subway Line … The Line That Almost Never Was, The,” 221

  Seneca Avenue, 86

  Sesselberg, Hugo, 120

  7 Line, 47

  7th Avenue Line, 201, 228

  extension to New Jersey, 159

  722 Miles, 257

  76th Street Tunnel, 246, 247

  Sheepshead Bay, 119, 152

  Sheridan, Arthur V., 89, 99, 169, 195, 198, 197, 232

  Sholom Aleichem Houses, 77

  Shonts, Theodore S., 71, 200–201, 216

  Short, W. Allaire, 123

  Sidamon-Eristoff, Constantine, 218

  Siegelstein, Bennett E., 170, 183–184

  Silver, Abe, 219

  Silzer, George S. 163

  Sissman, Jack, 218

  6th Avenue Elevated, 20, 208, 291

  6th Avenue–Houston Street Line, 16, 98, 203, 204, 249, 250

  connection with South 4th Street–South Queens Trunk Line, 11

  connection with Brooklyn–Queens Crosstown line, 39

  connection with Utica Avenue–Crosstown line, 119

  construction of express tracks, 244

  extension to 57th Street, 216

  inclusion in 1962–1963 Transit Authority plan, 245

  61st Street Tunnel, 203, 204, 248, 249, 250

  63rd Street line, 199, 216, 224, 253, 254, 262