Highway, Railroad Officials Give Views On Transportation
State Commissioner Outlines Plans For Roads Here;
Lackawanna To Study New Station
What Sussex County can expect by way of improvements
in transportation facilities, both highways and rail, was outlined last
night by state Highway Commissioner Spencer Miller, Jr., and by Robert
H. Taylor, division passenger agent, of the Lackawanna Railroad, at
a dinner meeting of the Branchville Business Men's Club at McKeown's
Culvers Lake Inn, Route S-31.
Specifically, Commissioner Miller said improvements
are planned for Route 23, widening of Route 6A between Lafayette and
Ross Corner, and increasing the width of several bridges. He said that
the state highway department will continue to improve the existing road
system, and would, in the future, consider a spur highway to connect
the county with one of the parkways which the state is now planning.
Taylor, on behalf of the railroad company, promised
to investigate the possibility of building a station on the main line
of the road at Roseville near Andover to provide fast service to Hoboken
and New York. He made it clear that railroad operations in Sussex County
in the past have not been profitable, that passenger traffic here in
the past five years has decreased sharply. He added that the company
is willing to co-operate and will give full consideration and study
to any request or suggestions made for improvement of the service.
Commissioner Miller devoted the main portion of his
speech to explaining the "transportation revolution" caused by the increased
use of motor vehicles in the past 30 years. He emphasized that New Jersey
urban sections of the state, where the density is greatest, will receive
first attention. He outlined the state plans for the construction of
parkways and freeways and said it will take 20 years to modernize the
state highway system.
The Commissioner said the problems of Sussex County
are "very much in mind", but these problems must be met by a complete
over-all plan for the whole state.
Taylor was introduced by A.M. Bimson, assistant general
manager in charge of personnel of the Lackawanna railroad. Bimson, who
owns a home near Lake Owassa, said that the management of the railroad
is open minded, and if the business is to be had in Sussex County, the
company wants to get it. Taylor spoke briefly on the modernization program
of the railroad company and then threw the meeting open for a general
discussion.
When Assemblyman Amos Dixon criticized the company
officials for an unco-operative attitude, Taylor assured him that officials
are now ready and willing to listen to any new suggestions and act on
them as far as possible. In response to a question by State Sen. Alfred
B. Littell, Taylor said he did not think a motor railcar shuttle service
between Sussex county and Dover would be satisfactory or practical.
When Douglas Roy complained about engines belching soot and smoke in
Branchville, Taylor declared the situation is controllable and promised
to take action to correct it.
Michael Hudson, one of the operators of the Northeast
Coachline spoke briefly of the service his line offers between Sussex
County and New York and said that it will be improved in the near future
after the bus starts using a shorter route.
Samuel Silverman, president of the club, presided over
the meeting.
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