The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-18
CITY MUST PLAN FUR AUTO FUTURE
Traffic Expert Says Rapid h. crease In Cars Presents
 Big Problem


 WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.-The city of the future must be planned for the automobile-or there will be bedlam and confusion that will make nearly every large metropolis in the country 8 modern Babel of traf- fic congestion.
 This is the warning of Raymond Beck, traffic expert and managing director Of the National Motorists association. A special committee of engineers was appointed by the as sociation to formulate program which will remedy the traffic prob lem confronting every American city.
 Here is the way Beck sizes up the situation:
 "The automobile is with us to stay. The number of cars is increasing 25 per cent every year. Yet there is nothing being done to meet the problem this increase will bring. The city fathers throughout the coun- try have got to look ahead and plan for conditions as they. will be five, ten years hence, and not on merely the basis of the present. which Is almost universally the case. The growth Is not being con- sidered at all"
 From close study of conditions, Beck recommends as aids in solv ing the problem:
 1. The arterial traffic system for large cities.
 ?. Planning future business build ing so that the commercial section, -t, not ion nouneed, will be spread out over a larger area.
 3. subways or underground park ing sections.
 The arterial traffic system, in BeclS's opinion. is the only way to meet morning and evening conges- tion in business sections, designed as it is for quick and efficient dumping from the crowded center The system is now being inaugu- rated in several large cities.
 Under this system, several of the most prominent streets leading away from the business area are made through thoroughfares. Traf- fic on such arteries has the right of way, all cars entering from either side being required to stop still be- fore turning into the tide or cross ing. Cars may also run much faster down these main thoroughfares.
 Tn the morning and night there is a huge volume of traffic damned into the business area" Beck said What is necessary is to move this away, back into the residential sec tions. as quickly as possible. This can be done under the arteria system He recommends spreading busi' ness buildings out into wider areas so as to diffuse the traffic moving in and out to business houses. Ht admitted that new grouping oi business sections in cities might bt needed, as most trades like to b. 1 locatel with others of their kind.
 "The only solution of the parking problem" he said Ties in specia areas off the streets. where there can be mass parking of hundreds oi cars. This is now being done 1T building erected especially for tht purpose. I think the best method i' to provide underground areas under l the principal streets. A business mar building erected especially for the it on a tram, it will be carried un- derground. and can remain there al day at a reasonable charge. This will save him jockeying around the streets for half an hour to find S place, which may then be half . mile or more from his place of busi- ness The cities might provide these places themselves or give the con cession to a commercial concern"