New York to Have 625,000 Goods-vehicle Terminal
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THE first union terminal for use by goods-vehicle operators in America has been projected for New York. Plans for it have been drawn up by the Port of New York Autherity, which is now acquiring property on the site where it is to be built. The location is close ,to the area in the city where goods-vehicle traffic is most congested and where miscellaneous goods freighting is densest in the Port Authority district
The Port Authority's powers to provide better facilities to expedite highway transportation extend miles beyond the limits of Manhattan Island, and it is convinced that a definite need exists for one large, or several small, union vehicle terminals in three or four New Jersey cities, within about 5 miles of New York City. A survey is already under way to ascertain the most suitable manner in which the miscellaneous freight in that area can be distributed.
But the Manhattan terminal is to be built first, starting so soon as materials for it can be made available, which is dependent upon the end of the war. The project will require about 400,000 man-hours of labour, and will be ready for operation in ,about 12 months after the first ground has been broken. The structure, which will be 1,000 ft. long by 175 ft. wide, is estimated to cost E.625,000.
It is designed to facilitate and expedite the handling of " less-thanlorry-loads " of goods, reduce street
traffic congestion an' lower the local haulage and terminal costs of those operators who now maintain their own individual terminals.
The primary structure of the union terminal will be a groundfloor platform 800 ft. by 80 ft., with loading and unloading bays on each side to accommodate about 136 vans and tractor-trailer units at the same time. It will be capable of handling about 1,600 tons of merchandise freight, or miscellaneous goods, in two eight-hour working shifts, or 2,000 tons in 24, hours. The " freight" may include anything from hairpins to aircraft engines, food or textiles. Both sides of the island platform are to be equipped with an overhead mechanical-conveyor system; which will tow platform trailers, of which there are to be 500, in addition to two cranes for handling very heavy pieces. This system is designed to facilitate the interchange of goods shipments amongst the hauliers.
Provision for Drivers' Rest Room
Ample space is also allowed on the ground floor for the temporary storage of goods that are valuable, damaged, or intended for export, and for a motor-vehicle service station, a.restaurant and a comfortably furnished hauliers' rest room provided with spray baths and first-aid equipment. The restaurant, repair shop and service station are to be leased as concessions.
One-way ramps for vehicles, and stairways for pedestrians will give access from street leyel to the second floor. Offices for use by the haulage concerns are to occupy one-third of the roof space, which is also to have a repair shop adequate to care for the equipment using the terminal. The remainder of the roof area will be available for parking as many as 128 tractor-trailer units. All vehicles using the terminal will thus be removed from "the streets at all times when not travelling, as loading and unloading will be clone inside the building.
Should there be a sufficient demand for landing and parking facilities for goods-transporting helicopters, roof space could be adapted for the purpose.
Mr. Frank C. Ferguson, chairman of the Port Authority, pointed out to our correspondent that the planning of this terminal was the first recognition by a public agency of the need for providing co-ordinated facilities for the fastgrowing road-transport industry, which now handles approximately two-thirds of the merchandise freight entering and leaving the port district. Existing terminals of the hauling Lonipanies in the area near the projected union terminal are inadequate in size and are neither united nor co-ordinated.
The public terminal, when completed, he said, will help to relieve the present congestion of vehicles in the streets and to prevent increases in haulage rates that would penalize business and labour in the port district. It will enable the motor haulage companies to interchange goods shipments directly across a common platform instead of between individual, separated terminals, with double handling and hauling through the streets of the city.
It is estimated that the use of the union. terminal will effect annual savings of 1,830,000 vehicle-miles and 15,600,000 tyre-miles, with a 20 per cent, increase in efficiency as the result of the quicker " turn rounds " that will be possible.