Newark Public Service Terminal
Encyclopedia
The Public Service Terminal was a two-level streetcar station in Newark, New Jersey
, owned and operated by the Public Service Corporation. It served as the terminus for streetcar lines from as far as Trenton, New Jersey
, and the six office stories above became company headquarters. Public Service was both a transportation company and a utility providing electric and gas service to much of northern New Jersey.
The terminal, opened on April 30, 1916 was located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard, a block away from the busy downtown crossing at Broad and Market Streets
. It provided an off-street terminal for streetcars, and a central location for riders. The street entrance was between the two track levels, and provided access to the office floors and to both terminals. Most cars used the upper level, reached by a ramp from Mulberry Street on the east side. Some used the lower level, reached on the west side from Washington Street by a one-block subway under Cedar Street
. In 1916 the upper level saw 2,050 cars a day and the lower 550 cars, with more than 50,000 fares paid per day. In 1935 the lower level was connected to the newly built City Subway
, which ran under Raymond Boulevard adjacent to the terminal, to allow cars to continue to the subway terminal at Penn Station
. The eastbound connection passed under the City Subway to avoid a grade crossing.
Like most trolley companies Public Service converted its routes to bus lines during the 1930s. The last streetcar line using the terminal upper level was the #1-Newark line to Exchange Place Terminal in Jersey City
, which ended on August 1, 1937, and the last on the lower level was the #43-Jersey City line, running to Exchange Place Terminal by a different route, which ended on May 1, 1938. The terminal continued in use for bus routes. The lower level was used until May 1966, and the upper level until 1978.
Public Service sold its transportation system to the State of New Jersey
in 1981, consisting of a large network of bus lines and one trolley line, namely the City Subway. The terminal building was demolished in June 1981. Nothing remains of the upper level, but of the lower level, the Cedar Street subway still exists from the portal to a wall east of Broad Street, and the access ramps to the City Subway now connect the subway to a light rail line to Broad Street station
.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, owned and operated by the Public Service Corporation. It served as the terminus for streetcar lines from as far as Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, and the six office stories above became company headquarters. Public Service was both a transportation company and a utility providing electric and gas service to much of northern New Jersey.
The terminal, opened on April 30, 1916 was located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard, a block away from the busy downtown crossing at Broad and Market Streets
Four Corners (Newark)
Four Corners at the intersection of Broad and Market Streets in Newark, New Jersey is site of the city's earliest settlement and the heart of Downtown that at one time was considered the busiest intersection in the United States...
. It provided an off-street terminal for streetcars, and a central location for riders. The street entrance was between the two track levels, and provided access to the office floors and to both terminals. Most cars used the upper level, reached by a ramp from Mulberry Street on the east side. Some used the lower level, reached on the west side from Washington Street by a one-block subway under Cedar Street
Cedar Street Subway
The Cedar Street Subway was built by the Public Service Corporation as an entrance to the lower level of the Newark Public Service Terminal. Starting at street level at Washington Street, it runs down a ramp into a short tunnel extending one block under Cedar Street and across Broad Street.The...
. In 1916 the upper level saw 2,050 cars a day and the lower 550 cars, with more than 50,000 fares paid per day. In 1935 the lower level was connected to the newly built City Subway
Newark Light Rail
The Newark Light Rail is a light rail system under New Jersey Transit Bus Operations serving Newark, New Jersey. The service consists of two segments, the original Newark City Subway, and the extension to Broad Street station...
, which ran under Raymond Boulevard adjacent to the terminal, to allow cars to continue to the subway terminal at Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (Newark)
Pennsylvania Station is a major transportation hub in Newark, New Jersey. Located at Raymond Plaza, between Market Street and Raymond Boulevard, Newark Penn Station is served by the Newark Light Rail, New Jersey Transit commuter rail, Amtrak long distance trains, the PATH rapid transit system, and...
. The eastbound connection passed under the City Subway to avoid a grade crossing.
Like most trolley companies Public Service converted its routes to bus lines during the 1930s. The last streetcar line using the terminal upper level was the #1-Newark line to Exchange Place Terminal in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, which ended on August 1, 1937, and the last on the lower level was the #43-Jersey City line, running to Exchange Place Terminal by a different route, which ended on May 1, 1938. The terminal continued in use for bus routes. The lower level was used until May 1966, and the upper level until 1978.
Public Service sold its transportation system to the State of New Jersey
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
in 1981, consisting of a large network of bus lines and one trolley line, namely the City Subway. The terminal building was demolished in June 1981. Nothing remains of the upper level, but of the lower level, the Cedar Street subway still exists from the portal to a wall east of Broad Street, and the access ramps to the City Subway now connect the subway to a light rail line to Broad Street station
Broad Street Station (Newark)
Newark Broad Street is a New Jersey Transit commuter rail station at 25 University Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. Built in 1901-03 on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad main line from Hoboken to Denville, Scranton and Buffalo, the station's historic architecture includes an elegant clock...
.