EDITORIAL
March 4, 1954

To Make the Hutchinson Safe

No single item of greater importance and cost has been presented in many years forl consideration by the Westchester resident-taxpayer than the report yesterday on proposed modernization of the Hutchinson River Parkway. It is a subject which deserves careful, conscientious study by every citizen interested in human safety and fast transportation.

To come quickly to the point, the report emanates from three interested County agencies, the Department of Public Works, the County Park Commission and the County Planning Commission. Their recommendations are based on surveys made by two competent firms of research engineers.

The Hutchinson Parkway in New Rochelle, 1928
Photo by Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-119876

Putting the news first, without any attempt to sugarcoat the pill, the cost of carrying out the recommended plan for making the Hutchinson safe and speedy is roughly estimated at $35 million. If that is the largest amount for any single public improvement the public of Westchester has ever been called on to approve. Any honest decision must await thorough study of the background, of the need and of our ability to pay.

Highlights of the report are:

1. Admission that the Hutchinson was inadequately designed and that it is “reasonably safe for operating speeds of only about 25mph.”
2. The parkway already is utilized beyond desirable loading and by 1958 the traffic demand will have exceeded capacity by 105 percent.
3. The parkway experiences more than one-third of all accidents on our parkway system, and more than one-half of all fatal accidents on system.
4. Principal cause of accidents is the inadequate center boulevard and excessive curvature.
5. From 1946 and 1953, 38 percent of all fatal accidents were caused by head-on collisions, in all but one case of which the narrow center island was crossed to cause the collisions in the opposing traffic lane.

These are points on which this and affiliated newspapers throughout Westchester have long preached, perhaps at times to a point of public monotony. But we consider human life most valuable thing in this material world.

Now, what can be done to alleviate or eliminate the conditions which cause this frightful traffic toll?

The report suggests alternate remedies. One, requiring minimum reconstruction, would include resurfacing, with erection of a nontraversable center barrier, with slightly wider pavement and with 10 foot shoulders. Cost, estimated, $8 million.

The second alternative would include substantial readjustment including the resurfacing, the center barrier, and shoulders but with more substantial changes in alignment and at traffic interchanges.

A third alternative would be to provide a new parkway roughly parallel to the present parkway. Heavy acquisition cost, and “strong local objections” make this inadvisable to contemplate further. No cost estimated.

W come, then, to the last alternative, the one recommended by the County agencies.

It is for complete reconstruction of the Hutchinson River Parkway with four traffic lanes in each direction from the New York City line to Westchester Avenue, and three lanes from there to the Connecticut line, The new parkway would b as safe as modern engineering science and the topography will permit, designed for 60 mph. Police regulation might be less. The present speed limit is 40 mph.

Well, that’s the rough outline. The details will be filled in later, we trust. For without complete information the public cannot be expected to reach a sound decision.

And this is, we repeat, the most important and most expensive proposition to be brought before the Westchester resident-taxpayer in many years. It deserves the best and the most honest consideration we can give.