TRANSPORT TANGLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 231, 29 September 1928, Page 12

TRANSPORT TANGLE.

HUGE LOAN FORECAST.

AMOUNT OF £636,000.

TRAMS, EXTENSIONS, AND BUSES.

REPORT PREPARED FOR CETY

COUNCIL.

A comprehensive report on city tramway requirements, embracing an expenditure of £033,000 (to bo spread over a period of three years), has been prepared by the city tramways manager (Mr. A. £. Ford). The suggested works \ vary somewhat from the proposals submitted to the ratepayers in August of last year, and iri the event of the Transport Bill not being, approved by Parliament, or rendered void by a vote of the ratepayers, the intention of the City Council is to ask the city ratepayers to sanction sufficient expenditure on capital works to meet transport needs. The following schedule is contained in j the report by Mr. Ford:— I (A) TRACK EXTENSIONS— v Chains Cost of S.T. £ 1. Point Chevalier Extension (to, beach) 500 92,050 2. Reinuera Extension, Jso. 4 (to Meadowbank Rd.) .. 140 24,800 S. Alt. Eden Extension, No. 2 (tp Mt. Albert Rd.) .... 242 44,860 4. Dominion Rd. Extension. No. 2 (to Mt. Albert Rd.) 19S 39,250 5. Edendale Extension, No. 2 (to Mt. Albert Rd.) .... 65 14,700 6. Quay Street Loop 26 11,700 7. Railway Station Loop .. 32 8,000 S. Stanley St. Parking Loop 22 2,500 !9. Onehunga Duplication .. 14 ' 2,650 | 10. Avondale Extension .. . 320 58,400 ! 11. Richmond Rd. and West End Estate Extension ... 290 62,000 12. New Plant 13,000 (15) WORKSHOPS AND BUS DEPOTS— £ 1. Additions to Workshops Buildings for Car and Bus overhauling. including Plant and Tools . 24,900 2. Alterations to Avondale Bus Garage 2,000 (C) r.O New Trams 152,100 (1»> l'rovision for 20 New Omnibuses 40,000 (E) Additional Cables (Parnell, Karangaliapc Rd.) 7,250 Cost of liaising Loan, Contingencies, etc 37,840 ' Grand Total 638,000 Point Chevalier Traffic. In reporting upon the items enumerated, Mr. Ford stated that the Point Chevalier district had developed considerably since his last report. The bus traffic at week-ends and holidays was very good. He estimated that in its present state of development the line would become profit earning within the first year of its opening. The opening of the line would release 15 buses running to the city at peak periods. In regard to the Remuera and Mount Eden extensions the districts had also shown considerable development. The former should become payable within two years and the latter within twelve months. The Dominion Road extension "is a pressing one," commented the manager, and it was estimated that it would earn profits from the day of opening. The Edendale Road extension wa<= also calculated to pay from the time of opening. Reporting on the three proposed loops, Mr. Ford said: "Quay Street Loop.— This comprises connecting tracks between the present dead end at the foot of Queen Street, proceeding along Quay Street and Albert Street to Customs Street West, and is an essential link in the scheme for the prevention of congestion at the Queen Street and Customs Street junction, and the quick dispatch of cars on their outward journey. This cannot be constructed until the Gladstone Buildings have been reconetructed to the new building alignment. It is proposed to instal the railway station loop when the new railway station has been completed, its function being to provide sidings for cars to accommodate passengers from the trains without delaying the main line tram traffic in Beach Road. The Stanley Street parking ioop proposal is put forward so to avoid delay of the main line tram traffic up Parnell Rice, when care are required to cope w>ith the crowds to and from Car law Park." Avondale Extension. The Avondale proposal, commented the manager, made provision for a race traffic loop. Beating in mind the advanced ctate of the district lie was of opinion that if the line were constructed it would immediately earn profits. A ten-minute service was suggested. If the electrification of tiie railway line to the district did not eventuate for a few years the tramway development .-hould be such that its profitable operation should continue.

In reference to the Onelmnga duplication the manager stated that the last fourteen cliaino on the Onehunga route was t-.ingle- track and it was causing delay-—hence the neee-.-liy for duplication. There had been no inclusion ia the schedule of Albert .Street extension-, but, rr was necessary to consider the question in view of Oaeen Street congestion. Of. the 52 tuiiiK-ar.s included ill the schedule -1 were required fur the ex* teiic-ions and the baian.-c t.» augment the evicting service-;. A.- I ' the £40,000 for buse.-. when the extensions suggested were completed, aii the buses taken over i.oin t!:c out.-' !e companies would have passed the economic limit oi tlleir lives, and replacements would have to be considered.