Evening star., 1919-02-23
THIRD TRACK ON l4TH STREET
PROPOSED TRAFFIC REMEDY
Ordnance Department Employe Also Sug-
gests Subway for Union Station
Plaza Relief.

As means of relieving traffic con-
geStion over the principal thoroughfares
of the city during the rush hours OF
the morning and afternoon the sug-
gestion is made by Elmer i. john
son of the ordnance department, that
third track be constructed on the
west side of 18th street by the Capt.
tai Traction Company.
Mr.. Johnson points out in commun-
nication to The Sunday star that it
is not practicable to build either
general subway or an elevated road,
and therefore. he says. in the con-
sideration of the growing traffic con-
gestion ideas must be considered TO
create plans that may be applied to
the principal thoroughfares and pro-
vide a 100 per cent street car and
automobile system.
Details of Project.
Discussing the plan he proposes for
the construction of the third track on
the west side of 18th street, he says;
Leave the present tracks Is they
are, build third track on the west
side of the street. In the morning use
the center track for southbound cars
TO run express, with three stops be-
tween the northern terminal and New
York avenue,
Fourteenth street could be one
way traffic street for autos and other
vehicles. and in the morning all traf-
fic to be north, and on the east SIDE
of the street. This plan would be re-
yersed in the afteFnoon-that is, the
center track to be used for express
cars going north, auto traffic TO be
south and on the east side OF the
street.
Under such traffic rules there would
not be any auto traffic in the morning
to interfere with and delay passen-
gers going to south bound cars. In
the evening the auto traffic going
south on the east side of the street
would be very light, and not very
dangerous to passengers leaving
north-bound cars.
Double Deck Subway.
Another advanced idea along this
line is suggested by Mr.. Johnson in
subway for trolley cars and automo-
biies-a double decker with street
cars running through the upper part
of the tube. while automobiles Wouio
operate on the lower level He would
construct q subway under the Union
station plaza, starting on the prop
erty north of the Capitol Park Hotel
in North Capitol street, near r to New
Jersey avenue. then running 300 feet
south. There is a sixty-foot elevation
of the Union station plaza from this
starting point that would take care of
the subway running 1,400 feet to the
eastern end of the plaza. Discussing
this feature, Mr. Johnson says:
"On the north and south sides of this
plot, in and out driveways for automo-,
biies could be built, and between these
driveways four Westbound and TOUR
eastbound tracks could be laid, the
space permitting overhead and under
head crossings.
'It is only necessary to glance at
the east end of the plot, the space on
North Capitol street. to see that work
on the subway could be commenced
Immediately. thus providing employ
fnent for several hundred men.
Cars eastbound would reach the
subway via New Jersey avenue. The
trolley subway should be continued
under the plaza to the eastern end OF
the station to accommodate the lines
from the east, and so that the large
open plot east of the station could be
reached and used as a car yard. BY
the proper laying of the tracks at
least 1000 cars could be stored.
Reduction of Running Time.
"Of the thousands who reach Union
station daily, perhaps rs per cent start
from near the Treasury building and
take the Pennsylvania avenue cars,
which, after making all points OF the
compass, finally reach the station. To
reduce the running time from the
Treasury building to the station from
thirty minutes to ten minutes it would
only be necessary to lay tracks on
Massachusetts avenue from 4th street
.o New Jersey avenue a distance of