^g^: »•"?!*'■' ■■ , i' * M ..^X>: mt ^"i-K' 1%. l:-*: ^ -1 •.*'*V f'c: ■ ^ A' AC Cornell University Library NAC 2174 .N54C74 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924024404778 Report of the Interurban Committee ON Streets and Highways \ .// \ SOUTH MOUNTAIN RCXfVAriON / C/tCLC ROCK RESERWiriON ORANGE \ ■\ ^\ \ '.MONTCLAIR/ / / / / -NUTLET^ ^ ' \1 hj ^ _ ORANqc ^ fll?-y/ c & :^'!:) If .-.• -:. JKEARN. -:.^ -C^ / SOUThf. ORANGE '^"'y.'.'.O.RANO^' " ' war::' i» •••••. • /'..••. V* I ••V'T f-uL J • • •. » "mRRlBON:- /TH ORANGE 'TOWNSHIP / NLW/IRK CITY PL/JN COMMISSION GENERi^L M/^P OF THE METROPOLIT/^N DISTRICT POPUL/ITIOM ONC OOT ' ZOO PCRSONS P/tRKS ^NC- CCMCT£RI£S THUS £17 MORRIS C/Rlii^L SHOWN THUS — — P/IIIRO/IP Lines SHOWN THUS ■ NiLCS -.f^f* "NJ i/SLQMiC PHt^K \/ . cm j^,^ M.J . * * * 1 1 1 « « > t-j 1 / ; '1 \ . ; '' vTcnung] In: ' /•^> M:;< »0*^0' -e o'4e r= 4 ^« |^0°44' l&RANQW. NULLS- ^. A ,^/: 40°4c ^y^ ♦r'JO Reproduced by permission from the maps of the Geological Survey of New Jersey through the courtesy of H. B. Kummel, State Geologist. THt NEW.^ : CITY PLAN COMMISSION MAP or 1 Hi: METf >OLITAN DISTRICT SHOWING INTERCOMMUNH* RADIAL THOROUGHFARES *c «c VM- *0 38 f Scale r 2000' KEY 60 feet wide or over Less than 60 feet wide THE NEWARK CITY PLAN COMMISSION SKELETON MAP OF THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT SHOWING INTERCOMMUNITY RADIAL THOROUGHFARES I I S, \ ■^ ..^ ..i! \ f.'it \ J Conference on Inter-Urban Improvement 11 Radial Thoroughfares As far back as 1705 we find a well defined plan for highways leading from Newark west to the first mountain. At this time the authorities of the Town of Newark, which town then extended over this entire area, laid out a system of 8 tolO roads in which are included our present South Orange Avenue, Warren Street, Main Street, Valley Road and others. From time to time these larger highways were improved so that in 1870 there were at least seven of them leading from Newark each of which was 75 feet or more in width. This forethought on the part of our ancestors is responsible for our most excellent present system of radial thoroughfares. In all of this great radial system nowhere do we find a width of less than 60 feet. But few suggestions are necessary to improve this. One of the most needed changes is probably the extension of Clinton Avenue in Newark southwest from its intersection with the Manufacturers' Branch of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. Another piroblem involves the development of radial connections to and from each of the 15 or more smaller municipalities. These are shown on Map 5. The extension of Clinton Avenue in the manner suggested above is a highly important consideration. For a few short blocks it would involve the destruction of a number of inexpen- sive structures but otherwise would necessitate only the cost incidental to the condemnation of the needed land. South of Clinton Avenue and west of Elizabeth Avenue lies a vast area, as yet only partially developed and through which no radial thoroughfares run, and where the street system has not been extensively planned. A large radial thoroughfare through this district,- as suggested, would immediately open up a territory well suited for residential purposes, and if postponed for any considerable length of time its accomplishment will be impossi- ble by reason of excessive cost. One more suggested extension of the present radial system is that of Washington Avenue north from Kingsland Street, at the Passaic County line, to Franklin Avenue. This improve- ment would extend through as yet undeveloped territory and eliminate the dead end of what is now one of the finest of all the radial thorpughfares. The improvement would open up a direct through route to Passaic and Paterson. Maps 12 and 24 show the individual radial system of the numerous municipalities each of which has been developed quite considerably. There are many ways in which these various individual systems could be extended and united in a general 12 Conference on Inter-Urban Improvement plan. Map 7 shows where these improvements could best be made. Amongst others, those which seem to be important are the extension of Ridgewood Avenue in Glen Ridge north of Bellevue Avenue, the extension of Broad Street from its intersection with Watchung Avenue, north to Bellevue Avenue, the extension of Watchung Avenue in Glen Ridge east to Centre Street in Nutley, and the extension of Centre Street, at its intersection with Washington Avenue in Nutley, east to Park Avenue, etc. Between the Metropolitan District and New York there are but two highways, the Plank Road and the Turnpike, each of which leads to Exchange Place, Jersey City, where ferries run to Cortlandt Street, New York. At least one more connection should be created between these two metropolii. A suggestion is shown on Map 25. This would create a new and direct route to 42nd Street, New York, by building a road northeast from the Belleville Bridge through Kearny and across the meadows to Secaucus making a connection there with the Paterson Plank Road. It is estimated that this connection would save any- where from three to five miles to all residents of the Metropoli- tan District wishing to reach the 42nd Street ferries. A further suggestion in the development of the much needed inter- communal radials is the building of a bridge over the Passaic River from Elwood Avenue, Newark, to Quincy Avenue, Kearny, and the extension of Quincy Avenue to the Belleville Turnpike. This would make possible a quicker and shorter route for all residents of North Newark, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and Montclair to the Cortlandt Street connection. It is estimated that this route would save from one to two miles for those using it. There are many further considerations which will more properly be discussed under the several community studies ' below. The Rectangular Street System Considering the street system of the Metropolitan area as a unit, it will be observed that many of the large thoroughfares run either directly north and south or east and west, and the majority of the smaller streets as a result, follow the same general direction. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that these thoroughfare^ originally were established parallel with and at right angles tothe physical boundaries of the district, Passaic River and the Orange Mountains, both of which run north and south. These larger streets are placed at surprisingly regular CEPAWr^RQVfi-; iO-iZ' ■so' o'^e' o'a-a' ' T\\V Vvv ..^^^^v - *P*- ^^^^ 'T''^\^ H^^ ==^^^v ^" I mnj^ 40'4.A' tp'^iO |o'3fl Reproduced by permission from the maps of the Geological Survey of New Jersey through the courtesy of H. B. Kummel, State Geologist. THE NEWARK CITY PLAN COMMISSION MAP OF THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT SHOWING PRINCIPAL RECTANGULAR SYSTEM WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT Scale 1 2000' KEY Existing Highways 60 feet wide or over ^— — ^— — Existing Highways less than 60 feet wide Proposed Extensions THE NEWARK CITY PLAN COMMISSION MAP or THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT SHOWING PRINCIPAL RECTANGULAR SYSTEM WITH SUGGESTION FOR IMPROVEMENT Seal, of MiltM KEY r>. \^ J ' \ \ >. / \ \ \ f ^ \ ^^ 4 % 1 1/ f wast/ c 1 n" c I HA\RRISON m. si ^ ^ ^ ^js^ss:^^^ 7 1 If --- 4iS '\ RADIAL THOROUGHFARES 1 1 ...^^_^^,^ ""^ $/ 10 Vide crOver M i p/ Uss Than €tfWda « \ f Map No. 18 34 Conference on Inter-Urban Improvement Montclair The street system of Montclair is built about such large radial and inter-community streets as Bloomfield Avenue, Claremont Avenue, Valley Road and Harrison Avenue, Orange, Elm and Grove Streets. These together with a mmiber of other large local thoroughfares constitute an excellent system. Few improvements are necessary within the locality to complete highways which affect the district in general. Claremont Avenue from Valley Road to Forest Street is but fifty feet wide and Valley Road from Church Street to Central Avenue is of the same width. It would seem wise to increase the width of these two streets to at least 75 feet throughout their length. While the local street system is generally rectangular, it has been departed from quite successfully in numerous instances. In view of the large amount of vacant land to the north, a plan should sooner or later be devised by which the city can continue to grow in a manner comparable with its present system and in harmony therewith. ! 1 V 1 \ \ N RADIAL THOROUGHFARES y.l 1 60'yt-dm or Over .' ■ ^./ UssThonCO'mde / , Av^ / / J /// . ^x X \ / // / / f £i2222«o ■ L J \ / ~7^ / 7 / £f_ 1 /Ax< "^ //■ /x /■' \pX/ / / ^ [3 A^/^"^'~ ^ % / \ f ( ^ / \ r ^w^"^, ^'"^'^., "^i \ ' 7 ^1 \ 1/ ' v- / \5 1 Map No. 19 36 Conference on Inter-Urban Improvement Newark With regard to the MetropoUtan District, Newark's radial system is all that could be desired and, generally speaking, its rectangular system is also very well developed. The City Plan Commission has already recommended numerous changes in the street system within the city which would tend to perfect it in the best possible manner. ' The most important suggestions in connection with this g;eneral plan of improvement are the straightening and widening of Washington Street and extension of Frelinghuysen Avenue to Clinton Avenue where it would connect with Washington Street; the connection of Belmont Avenue and Norfolk Street between South Orange Avenue and Springfield Avenue, and the extension of Belmont Avenue from Hawthorne Avenue south to meet Elizabeth Avenue; the development of North 9th Street and South 10th Street into a through cross-town boulevard and the widening and removal of jogs on such thoroughfares in the Vailsburg district as East Orange and Irvington may see fit themselves to develop. This will probably include Sanford Avenue, Stuyvesant Avenue, Munn Avenue and Grove Street. The above mentioned thoroughfares together with Broad Street, Mulberry Street and such extensions as may be made in the meadow district will create a number of excellent north and south highways. East and west streets do not generally necessitate as much improve- ment. Among the suggestions already made for these streets are the extension of Elwood Avenue and the building of a bridge over the Passaic River, the extension of Central Avenue to the Market Street Station, the straightening of Lafayette Street to connect with William Street, the extension of 16th and 18th Avenues and extensions to the east of all the large east and west streets which now terminate at the meadows. In the meadow district, Newark and Elizabeth, either jointly or separately, should at once devise a plan for a street system. This vast area, containing in Newark alone some 8000 acres, cannot possibly grow in a healthy manner unless some pre-arranged plan has been prepared. Upon these meadows several streets are now being opened and before further attempts are made to fill in and open up this area, it should first be the duty of the city authorities to prepare a plan and follow it. It is pleasing to note in a large city like Newark that of all its large highways not one has been built under 60 feet wide. It would be difficult to estimate the huge expenditures which have thus been saved. RADIAL THOR0U6HFARES 60' tl.da or Ortt i L KSS Than 50>, A — \ / /■ / / L Map No. 20 38 Conference on Inter-Urban Improvement The attention of the Park and Playground Committee is called to the situation of Riverside Avenue and Passaic Street^ which, being so close to the river, afford possibilities for an excellent boulevard. The continuation of Passaic Street through Mt. Pleasant cemetery to coniiect with Riverside Avenue is an improvement to which attention is called and one which would be necessary should an attempt be made to provide parking and boulevard facilities here. One further suggestion is that 12th Avenue be extended west from 12th Street to con- nect with Rhode Island Avenue in East Orange. No means of communication is possible in this direction, between Central Avenue and South Orange Avenue, which are here fully three- fifths of a mile apart. This is too long a distance without a street. The difficulty encountered is that it would necessitate an opening through two cemeteries, which, however, is not an impossible or unprecedented action. Nutley Washington Avenue, Passaic Avenue, Franklin Avenue and Centre Street are Nutley's best thoroughfares, all of which successfully fulfill their functions with the possible exception of Passaic Street, which 'is but 50 feet wide. This width could well be increased to 75 feet. On the map it will be noticed that an extension of Union Avenue is proposed which would thus complete another large thoroughfare. Another proposed exten- sion is that of Washington Avenue to Franklin Avenue, just north of the Cotmty line, which would also constitute the com- plete continuation of another large highway. A further improvement is suggested in the widening of River Road and an extension to follow the contour of the river as far as the County line. Centre Street could well be extended east from Washing- ton Avenue to Park Avenue, thus forming a direct connection to and from the Avondale bridge. Considerable vacant territory in Nutley leads to the suggestion that a plan be devised in order to make possible its most efficient use. Map No. 21 40 Conference on Inter-Urban Improvement Orange Centre Street and Scotland Street are two good thorough- fares which lose much of their effectiveness through insufficient width. The latter should be extended to the north in the manner suggested on the map and thus afford a direct outlet on Orange Street at the Montclair line. Study should be made of the possibility of a coimection between- Centre Street and Orange Street. South of Central Avenue another east and west thoroughfare should be provided. This would probably follow the general direction of Hillside Avenue, being in effect a continuation of Rhode Island Avenue from East Orange. Numerous slight defects in the local street system are evident, which will probably be eliminated in the course of time. There is little vacant area in need of a plan and here as elsewhere the predominant fault is the lack of adequate highway facilities to the north and south. As the Metropolitan District grows the demand for the thoroughfares in this direction will increase and too much cannot be said to urge development by the various communities through which several of these more logical routes run. RADIAL THOROUGHFARES 60" Wiifw or Ovvr • Lass Than SO'^fidm^ ^ — Map No. 22 42 Conference on Inter-Urban Improvement South Orange Village The extension of Wyoming Avenue to Gregory Avenue, the widening of Valley Street and Scotland Street, a proper connec- tion between these two at South Orange Avenue, and the widening of Centre Street are the most necessary improvements within this municipality. South Orange Avenue and Irvington Avenue afford good radial communications to the east and west. Owing to the steep hill on the west of the village, care should be taken when this territory is developed to avoid as far as possible excessive grades. South Orange Township A very irregular plan exists in this Township as an examina- tion of the map will disclose. In the east this is particularly noticeable and as there is a considerable amount of vacant land here, a plan should immediately be devised for its development, otherwise a most difficult situation will soon be encountered. The most necessary improvements here are the widening of Valley Street, the widening of Boyden Avenue, the continuation of Parker Avenue to Irvington Avenue at the town line, and the continuation of Baker Street from Valley Street directly east to Tuscan Road. » J / MDIAL THOROUGHFARES / J / / /■ J UssT/,an60W.if, / / a/ / ^ 4^ i' / f r^ ^ / / • ( / • \ ^ ^ / ' ^-"'\ / / V ^' / / / / / / ,^' '^^ / ^'^^ '''^ f>> ^--/ ^**S,^ / / >-. ,5* / ~~^ ff 'l V f II 'i /// ^ —^ \^ \ / f/ / \ / Ar 1 S e|%-^ / j( ..«>'' 1 / ^^^_^^ «!«=- --^d^k J' h __y / ^~"^- '(' ! ^'^'^^'"^-^ '*^ ^y ^^- X y --^y X ' n \ ^ 1 \ V / V N;» / \ X ' 1 \ \ Map No. 23 44 Conference on Inter-Urban Improvement West Orange The steep grades of West Orange necessitate a very irregular plan and it is to be noticed that here the rectangular system has been abandoned to a greater extent than in any other municipality, with results which are fully as effective. This is probably due to the fact that considerable care has been taken regarding the direction of the larger thoroughfares. Valley Road, Northfield Avenue, Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Eagle Rock Avenue, Gregory Avenue, Prospect Avenue, are all well situated and sufficiently wide for all practical purposes. To the west is a vast amount of vacant land which will probably so remain for many years. It is to be hoped that in its develop- ment the same care which characterizes the present street system will be used. V "-^/ / \ N. / / r . ^V^/"' . v^ 1 / \ / /.'' / ^ ( V \ ? ^^^ i ^ K\J * i i x^,''^-^ 1 / ^ 7^ I /\/' i <» / \ \ / /V^ i *' f//^" -' '■' i i ^.,>>^ /*^-w\j^ ^y if / ^v.. i\y i /--"^ ' / y \ 1 .-" v/ /r \ ^ y/" V= i — ■■^' y RADIAL THOROUGHFARES Map No. 24 C/ILDtrELL TOWNSHIP MAP OF ESSEX COUNTY SHOWING MUNICIPALITIES *^^o HIGHWAYS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS — / / V , V / (» y I ^^ ^/ > / 'I- \ \ / •SI' /