Transit: There Is A History

Editor, Bergen Evening Record.

Dear Sir: In your section entitled “Voice of the People” of the Saturday edition, February 12, there was a very interesting letter by a Mr. Walter Zullig Jr. of Maywood. In my opinion, Mr. Zullig did some very intelligent thinking in the course of his letter.

Through you I am taking the liberty of writing to Mr. Zullig and all who might be interested in the problem of mass transportation.

I should like to inform Mr. Zullig that several years ago the New Jersey Legislature created the New Jersey Regional Planning Commission. The purpose of the Commission was to study problems in the interest of the State and make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature regarding the methods to be followed in the solution of these problems. The Commission recommended to the Governor and Legislature that a bi-State New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission be created to study and report on the problem. New York State was not yet ready for such a step, and so the Legislature created a New York Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission and not a bi-State commission. This left New Jersey with no other alternative but to do the same. However, as soon as the two commissions were appointed they last year issued reports almost identical, and this time the recommendation was adopted by both Legislatures. In June of last year the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission came into existence, with an appropriation of $50,000 by each State.

Since its existence the Commission or our executive director has had meetings with the presidents of all the railroads serving the Metropolitan Area, with civic organizations, with the Governors of the two States, members of the Legislature, State Department heads, Mayor Wagner of New York, and many county and municipal officers.

Recently a memorandum of agreement was made by the Transit Commission with the Port Authority, whereby the latter is to furnish up to $500,000 to employ the best engineers available to study the rapid-transit problem.

In short, within the last 2 or 3 years a great deal of work has been done. Responsible officials have been alerted to the enormity of the problem and to the disastrous consequences if the problem is not solved. Great progress has been made in getting at the heart of the problem, and if the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission can continue to have the positive support of governmental and civic leaders as well as the public it will strive on until an intelligent solution to the problem is reached.

David Van Alstyne Jr.

Vice-Chairman of the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission

Englewood, Feb. 15, 1955