CITY TRAMWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2401, 5 March 1915, Page 6

CITY TRAMWAYS.

CONGESTION IN WJILIS STREET

HOW TO DEAL WITH IT

The desirability of diverting some of the train traffic from Willis Street via Mercer Street, Victoria Street, and r I aranaki Street formed the subject of a report furnished to the. City Couu°r' „! ast n 'Sht by the General Manager i'i>r?i Wa f s -^ r " Morton). ." "h the increasing number of cars it is evident," said Mr. Morton, "that steps will require to be taken within the next few years to relievo Willis btreet and Manners Street of a portion ot the rush-hour car traffic. This can be done by diverting cars at Mercer street, but to conneot up again with the present line in Courtenay. Place via Cuba Street or Taranaki Street as suggested would not in my opinion be a satisfactory solution of the difficulty, as the increased number of sharp curves would slow down the service. If tt should be decided to divert cars at Mercer Street it would be far preferable Quay, via Wakeueld Street and .thus provide an express route from the loading centre of the city. The deviation at Mercer btieet would, _ however, entail the croation_ of an important tramway junction in the busiest part of Willis Street and in consequence a block of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic would undoubtedly result. - ~ m y '"pinion the best method to flooP -iuil becomes imperative to deal with tho matter would be'to connect the Post Office Square with Clyde yuay by means -if Jervois Quay and a line laid along Wakefield Street. Such a connection would enable cars to run from the railway station to Courtenay Plaoe in much less time than through the dense , traffic experienced in Willis btreet and , Manners : Street. It would not be advisable to alter regular cars which are more profitable along shopping routes, but for the dispatch of I ® during rush hours special cars torily umcL r ° nt C ° Uld b6 SatisfaC " n fß o p epOr^„WaS^do eJ ed on the voices, J' ?• Barber had remarked that the engineer's scheme was a good one, and should bo proceeded with as soon as possible. Traffic at Courtenav Piano

The, Tramways Committee reported that a further proposal had heen received from the general manager of the tramways with respect to the rearrangement of traffic at Courtenay rlace. A plan showing such proposal \vaß placed before the council. The committee recommended that the scheme be approved as a matter of policy j but that, until funds are available to enable the work to be carried out, the roadway on the north side of the plantation be improved, in order to encourage" vehicular traffic to pass over it. The recommendation wav agreed to. Other Matters. Various other matters relative to the tramway system were also dealt with by the council last night. On the .re-commendation-of the Tramways Committee, it was decided that authority be granted for the purchase of a 50-h.p. .engine for the motor tower wagon, the present engine not being of sufficient power to carry out the work required. The lessee of the tramway waiting rooms, Island Bay, was given permission to make a partition in the waiting room behind the shop; in order to provide a small waiting room adjacent to the shop, ' the work to be carried out to the satisfaction of the tramways manager.

The request of the residents of Stokes Street for' a.tramway stop up and down in such street was not granted owing to the steep gradient, but the petitioners are to be informed that a stop can be . made on the journey to town if desired. The council declined to accede to the request for a tramway shelter shed at the south end of Kent Terrace. The Maranui School Committee put /forward a request for the issue of special school concession tickets to benefit ohildren living about Rongotai Terrace, beyond the City boundary. On the recommendation of the Tramways Committee, the request wao refused.