Motorways

What many a through motorist, delayed by local traffic, has long wished for, lay behind Bills introduced in the New York legislature last week to incorporate New York & New England Motorways Corp. Proposed was a high-speed, four-track toll boulevard between New York City's northern rim and New Haven, Conn. (85 mi.). Two hundred million dollars private capital would construct, maintain and police the project. All crossroads would be bridged over. The centre roadways, divided by a metal fence, would have a minimum speed limit of 35 m. p. h. Slower traffic would move on the outer lanes.

Chief sponsor for this motorway was Lester P. Barlow of Stamford, Conn., President of N. Y. & N. E. M. Corp. Mr. Barlow once invented a flying torpedo which according to his specifications, giant motors would drive 225 m. p. h. for 1,000 miles to discharge 500 Ib. of TNT. More practicable, less lethal was the plan Mr. Barlow lately drew up and presented to President Hoover for a system of private turnpikes linking all major U. S. cities. Last week Mr. Barlow assembled at his Stamford home his friends and supporters, outlined his plans for local cooperation on this, his latest scheme.

Upon the attitude of the New York New Haven & Hartford R. R. depended many of Mr. Barlow's plans. He proposed that his motorway should parallel the New Haven's line, even in places using the New Haven's right-of-way. The New Haven's rail stations would serve as motorway stations and turnoffs. In return the New Haven would be granted an exclusive bus franchise on the motorway.

Not new was Mr. Barlow's plan. First express toll road in the U. S. was the Long Island Motor Parkway (TIME, Sept. 16). Four years ago highway officials of Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana began to plan a tri-state motorway, 200 ft. wide, from Milwaukee, around the outskirts of Chicago, Hammond and Gary to the Michigan line. Of the 185 miles of right-of-way necessary for this toll road, 150 have been donated or leased. Last year plans were announced for a 25-mile elevated pavement for express motor travel over Grand Trunk R. R. tracks between Detroit and Pontiac, Mich. (TIME, Sept. 23).

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