STREET TRAFFIC.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 6

STREET TRAFFIC.

MEED FOR REFORM. .. SUGGESTIONS BY THE' CHIEF INSPECTOR, '\ T'ho question of congestion in our street traffic, and tho freedom with which tho city by-laws aro broken on that account was a subject dealt with in theso columns a few weeks ago. Subsequently in an article on city improvements it was pointed out that tho Council was itself delaying tho completion of tho widening of Willis Street by not seeking to shift back to tho new alignment its own property—tho block of brick shops purchased from the estate of tho lato Mr. Jacob Joseph between tho Berlin Piano.Company's warehouso on the ono side and tho new Windsor Hotel, both of which properties aro back on the new lino. It' was further suggested that tho City Council should take into consideration tho widening of Mannors Street, whilst thero was yet tho opportunity to do so on tho best terms that will over offer. In that article it was painted out how very congested the traffic was in that street, and on account of its restricted width there was barely room for a vohiclo to pass a tramcar on either side; further, that from the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel right along to tho New Zoalandcr Hotel thero was a lino of old wooden buildings. Carried Unanimously. Following up tho suggestion,' Councillor Fletchor moved that the_ City Council take into consideration tho widening of Mannors Street, which resolution was carried unanimously. Whether any consideration has been given to the matter is not known, but that Manners Street will have to bo widened becomes plainer every day, and the sooner the work is done tho cheaper it will bo for tho ratepayers. An Urgent Matter. The urgency of some reform in tho direction indicated is contained in tho annual report of tho Chief Inspector (Mr James Doylo) issued yesterday. In that report ho says:— " Although blocks in tho traffic aro so far unknown, and thero aro comparatively few street accidents, the matter of regulation is one which must presently come before tho Council. Owing, in a great measure, to tho fact that the tram rails havo been laid with little apparent consideration for general traffic, it will ba found that unusual difficulties exist here. In Cuba Street, for example, ono of the most congested thoroughfares in tho city, tho, rails havo beon kid 17ft. Gin. from the eastern, and only S)ft. from the western kerb; a tramcar overlaps the rail at least, a foot, leaving only Bft. available. Tho essence of street traffic regulation is, of course, duo observance | of tlio rulo : of tho road—keep to tho left—but it is obvious 'that in Cuba Street, as well as in rnanv other places, this is impossible,, and if traffic continues to increase, it may eventually bo found necessary to relay tho line in tho middle of the streot, or to divert, northern-bound traffic from- Cuba- Streot. Tho same' difficulty exists in Manners Street, where tho rail is only Bft. from tho southern korb, and in a lesser degree to Kent Terrace, because hero tho traffic could, if found necessary, bo divorted to Cambridgo Terrace. In Jervois Quay tho blocking of tho northern side," and tho removal of tho To Aro Railway, is all that is required. ■ A Suggestion. : "I don't think it would impair the efficiency of' the. service if a branch lino were taken through Taranaki Street, from Ingestro Street to Victoria Street, and tho idea of taking it right along Victoria Street to, Customhouse Quay, and .thence to.Thorndon, so that tho cars might travel from Ingestro Streot to Tliorndon, via Cuba; Manners, and Willis Streets, and return via Customhouse Quay, Victoria, and Taranaki Streets,, appears to be worth consideration. To moot present requirements, I would suggest that heavy traffic, defined as any vehicle which from its construction or loading does not travel, at a pace faster than a walk, should, with certain necessary exceptions, bo kept out of Cuba Streot between Ingestro and Manners Streets, Manners between Cuba and Willis Streets, and Willis Street between its intersection with Manners Street,to-its intersection with Lambton Quay, and tho Council should endeavour to arrange with thp polico to have a constablo stationed at the corner of Cuba and Manners Streets, and at the corner of Manners and Willis Streets, from, say, 8 to 9 a.m., .12 to 1 ip.m., and sto 6 p.m. I would also point out the urgent necessity of moro room at the Royal Qak corner."