The Washington times., 1922-12-30
HIGHWAYS
MUST Be
FREED.
rOommittee Ready to Approve
New Regulations for Dis
trict Traffic.
BY GEORGE FRANKLIN.

traffic control, yet Washington is
struggling with all of the traffic
problems harrassing the largest
cities in the world, according to
traffic experts recently surveying
conditions here.
Laid out to avoid traffic conges-
ton, the average width Of its
streets being considerable in excess
Of that of other cities, nevertheless,
traffic conditions developing dur
ing the busy hours of the day
throughout the central sections are
declared to be the despair of those
responsible for the enforcement OF
regulations governing vehicles In
the use Of the highways.
Parking First Problem.
This condition, 1t is pointed out.
10 of comparatively modern devel.
opment. Its incipiency may be
traced back to the advent Of the
automobile, according to highway
engineers. Hence. they say, the
chief traffic problem consists in
finding a solution to the question
of parking automobiles in the CEN
1t is estimated that no fewer than
10000 motor vehicles are parked
At times in the highways travers,
Ing or leading into the business
quarter of the city. In certain
blocks in that section each side of
the street Is lined with autos tailed
in or nosed in so closely that it is
impossible for the pedestrian to
cross to the opposite side without
going to an intersecting street.
This is not the condition in single
block. 1t extends generally through.
out the entire downtown section.
and with the increasing use of au-
tomobiles is creeping out into ad'
jacent sections.
Will Endorse New Rules.
To park thousands of motor cars
within the limits of the commercial
section. it is said, is the greatest
and that until a satisfactory solu.
ton has been found for it little i'm.
provement in traffic can be ex.
, pected.
According to William Phelps Emo.
traffic expert and chairman of the
recently appointed traffic commit
tee now seeking solutions to the
various problems found in existing
conditions. parking Of automobiles
is to be considered at a meeting OF
the committee on January 3, when
the revised traffic regulations, to
be presented for consideration of
the District Commissioners, will be
officially endorsed by the commit
tee.
Those who have studied the auto
parking situation here closely ad-
init that the final solution to safe,
sane and satisfactory parking OF
autos cannot be reached through
any regulations prescribing the par
ticular way in which autos must
be placed in relation to curbs.. 1t
Is conceded that 1t is no longer
question of ranking and parking.
The final solution Of the traffic
problem involved In the presence
OF autos left standing in the streets
rests. 1t Ia asserted, In providing
parking quarters off the streets.
Must Free Highways.
Free the highways of the central
section Of the city of the thousands
of automobiles left standing along
the curbs for hours each day, 1t is
urSeO, ana lOHS step VIII 'c
taken toward solving the other
traffic problems. especially that Of
reducing the number Of street &C.
cidents to a minimum.
While not authoritatively stated,
n Is understood that consideration
is being given a plan which would
result in the District Commission.
ers acquiring sections OF land with.
in certain blocks now used by the
property owners as backwards, and
converting them into sites for Dis
trict parking garages. On these
locations. II Is pointed out. it would
he possible to erect fireproof, sub
stantially constructed buildings sew
eral stories in. height. each having
a capacity of from 500 to 1000
autos. The garages would be
equipped with powerful elevators
capable Of hoisting five or ten
autos at one time to the upper
marking floors. These floors would
be divided into a given number OF
spaces. Each space, would he num-
bered and a check corresponding
IN number to. the space given the
motorist.
Could Provide Service.
In addition to providing parking
Gpace, the District garages, II was
e,,eeested, could provide service, In.
Guiding the cleaning Of cars and
the making Of slight repairs. This
would provide additional revenue, a
nominal parking charge being
made. According to those favoring
the District garage plan the lower
floor of each garage would be re,
served for motorist parking cars
Sor A few hours only, while the
unper parking floors would be used
for all.day parking.
Those familiar with the parking
situation express the opinion that
five District garages. having park
ing accommodation for from three
10 five thousand cars. would meet
requirements for the next five
yesns. while the withdrawal from
the highways Of corresponding
number OF automobiles would free
the streets from the dangers and
Inconvenience incident 10 existing
conditions and parking methods.