Evening star., 1922-12-22
Commissioner Oyster Directs
HeadIey to Investigate
Feasibility of Change.
FIRST OF VITAL TRAFFIC
REFORMS CONTEMPLATED
Widening Of Tenth, Twelfth and
Thirteenth Streets Suggested
as One Solution.

The first step toward drastic
changes in traffic regulations in
Washington was taken by Commits
sioner Oyster today. when he directed
Inspector Headley. chief OF the po-
lice traffic bureau, to investigate In
mediately the feasibility of establish
ing permanent one-way streets in
the city's more congested districts
This is one OF the first questions
the newly created Washington Safety
Council announced 1t would consider
for the improvement OF conditions
here. and 1t is believed to be only
the beginning OF a general change of
rules to govern the movement of both
vehicles and pedestrians.
Il am afraid we will have to come
to 1t sooner or later" Commissioner
Oyster explained, land We may as
well vegin to collect data, SO We will
know where the one-way rule should
apply"
May Widen Streets.
Inspector Headley informed the
Commissioner that his report would
be completed in January, and II 10 not
unlikely trial. at least, will be made
soon afterward. Both the Commits
sioner and the traffic director would
prefer to solve the traffic problem a.
It affects vehicles going north and
south by widening such frequented
thoroughfares as 10th. 18th and 1s.a
streets. This could be done by tax
ing off several feet of the sidewalks.
1t would entail considerable expense,
however. which the District can iii
anord to bear at the present time
one-way streets north and south,
however. have found more favor
18th streets are used by motorists
who wish to avoid the congestion and
street car lines on 14th street They
nave suggested that all thorough.
fares running north and south with
in radius bound by Massachusetts,
avenue on the north. the Mall on the
south. 'th street on the east and
18th street on the west be made one
way streets.
The exceptions In this sone would
be 9Th street and 11th street which
have car tracks. and are little used.
That would leave sth street and 18th
street for north bound traffic and 18th
and 10th streets for south bound traf-
nc between the points indicated.
Should this regulation be put in ef-
would be abolished and machines
would be allowed to park parellel on
the left hand side only. The right
hand side of the street would be kept
free for machines to stop. discharge
passengers and move on Immediately.
May Change Parking Rule.
Another suggestion under consider
alton Of the Washington Safety Coun-
Gil is the abolition of angle parking
on 14th street. Complaints by the
score have been received that modern
automobiles are SO long. that lives are
endangered every time motorist Is
obliged to pass between one of these
parked automobiles and street car,
because there Is not sufficient room.
Pedestrians waiting for street cars
are obliged to remain on the side
walk and rush out before oncoming
automobiles when their cars come
along. If motorists were compelled
to park parallel plenty OF room wouio
be left for the creation OF safety zones
in front of car stops and moving We
hicles still would have enough room
to drive with greater degree OF
safety.
one-way streets is Regarded as the
first permanent benefit to be reaped
from the lessons of Safety week. out
of which grew the washington
Safety Council. In addition to that
organization. the District Commits
sioners have created another COM
mittee Of prominent business men and
women for the consideration of traffic
conditions. William p. Emo. the IN
ternationally known traffic expert,
already has accepted craftsmanship
of the committee and Engineer Com
missioner Keller announced today
that the entire personnel would be
ready for publication following
meeting of the Board OF Commission
ers tomorrow morning.
The work Of these two bodies is ex-
pected to give Washington the finest
set of traffic regulations in the country
They will affect motorists and pedes-
trians alike, making both riding and
walking safer and more enjoyable than
under present strained conditions. 1t
Is also hoped by those who have the
proposals in charge that Washingtons
regulations may soon become the basis
for a national automobile code. SO that
motorists en- tour will not be constantly
breaking laws every time they drive
into a state or town that is new to them.