CITY TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26176, 12 June 1946, Page 4

CITY TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Change to Trolley Buses

TOTAL COST OF £968,009

Proposals Fully Outlined

Reports which show that a sum of nearly £1,000,000 will be required to effect a change-over of the city-transport system from trams to trolley buses will be placed before a special meeting of the City Council to-morrow afternoon. These reports estimate the cost of trolley buses and the necessary plant, together with the removal of existing gear and restoration of roads, at £739,780, and the cost of additional road reconstruction at £228,229, a total of £968,009.

A recommendation will bf made to the council that the changeover to trolley buses should be made at the earliest possible date. It will also be recommended that this be done by raising loans of £858,000. but the reports contain the reassuring information that the finance can be so arranged that it will not be necessary to have recourse to additional rating. It is estimated that the change-over, if approved, will not be completed for five years.

In its report the Transport Committee points out that the former proposals were based on estimates submitted by Sir William Goodman, and. in view of rapidly changing conditions and the fact that certain important aspects of the change-over, such as rehabilitation of tramway track areas, had not been covered by Sir William’s report, it became necessary to review the whole of the figures and prepare fresh estimates covering all phases of the change-over. This also necessitated a consideration of further works deemed necessary for strengthening streets on trolley bus routes outside the tramway track routes. “The Transport Committee hopes that the council will authorise the calling of tenders for trolley buses and the necessary overhead wire without further delay,” said Cr J. McCrae, chairman of the Transport Committee, yesterday. “ Should the council approve of the proposals, the scheme will be proceeded with in sections as laid. down in the report submitted by the Transport Committee.” It was proposed, he added, to place the order for the trolley buses so that their arrival would coincide with the department's requirements for the various sections. The calling of tenders would not commit the council to any financial responsibility until the loan was endorsed by the ratepayers. Details of the estimated cost of the change-over to trolley buses are as follows: TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT

Arising out of the reports which will be submitted, the council will be asked to approve of the raising of the following loans:A loan of £700,000 for the purpose of purchasing trolley buses, installing the system, and for other works incidental thereto. A loan of £72,000 for the purpose of paving tramway track areas and reconstruction of streets on trolley bus routes. A loan of £86,000 for the purpose of reconstructing and extending Albert street. The total of these loan proposals is £858,000. It will be necessary, following the receipt of the Loans Board’s sanction, to take a poll of the ratepayers on the loan proposals. In this cohnection it is recommended that the voting paper provide for the three loans being voted on as one issue.

£ £ Seventy-nine trolley buses 450,300 Overhead and feeders— City 85.250 Hill 26.738 Overhead extensions 5.812 117.800 Alterations to buildings 12,000 Contingencies 10 per cent - 58,010 70,010 Removing rails and sleepers and overhead— City .. .. 12,025 Cable lines 4,160 St. Kilda 1,733 17,918 Restoring track areas to standard of Macadamised road— City and main cable lines .. .. 76.053 Plus Maryhill 1.129 St. Kilda 6,570 83,752 £739,780 MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT Paving tram track areas 45,129 Street reconstruction on trolley bus routes .. 1! ■ 97.100 Albert street reconstruction and extension .. 86,000 228,229 Total £968,009