12 Point Program For Queens Submitted To Transit Committee

The Queens Chamber of Commerce will present its 12-point Queens Transit Program, designed to meet the boough’s requirements for the next 50 years, to the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission on Sept. 10th, according to an announcement today by Simeon Heller of Flushing, chairman of the Chamber’s Transit Committee.

In announcing receipt of a communication from Frank H. Simon, executive director of the MRTC, scheduling the Chamber’s appearance at the Commission meeting, Chairman Heller expressed confidence that his special liaison committee “will convince the commissioners that our transit program would benefit not only Queens but the Greater New York area as well.”

Three points in the Chamber plan, Heller noted, are already included in engineering studies authorized by the Commission to help determine an overall program for extra rapid transit facilities serving the New York-New Jersey metropolitan section.

The three points call for (1) construction of a new East River tunnel at 76th Street, Manhattan, to Long Island City, (2) extension of the 76th Street tunnel line to Woodside, and (3) construction of a new Horace Harding Boulevard line, linking up with either the Flushing IRT or the Long Island Rail Road and extending out Horace Harding to the Alley Park section.

Mr. Heller emphasized that the Chamber “is by no means overlooking the Transit Authority and its similar efforts to solve New Yok City’s transit problems. He stressed the importance, however, of presenting the Chamber’s program at a meeting of the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission “where engineering studies can be authorized to determine the feasibility of our proposals.”

Two priorities will be urged on the Commission at the Sept. 10th session, the Chamber spokesman declared:

1. Extension of the Flushing Main Street subway via Kissena Boulevard and out Horace Harding Boulevard.

2. Link-up of the new Rockaway Division line with the Independent Subweay line at White Pot Junction in Rego Park to provide through-service for the Queens mainland.