Evening star., 1924-12-17
BOULEVARD SYSTEM
TO Be FEATURE OF
TRAFFIC MEASURE
ArtefiaI Highways in Which
Greater Speed Is Permit
ted to Be Asked.
EXPERT URGES 35-MILE
SPEED LIMIT IN PLACES
Would Allow High Rate on Con-
necticut Avenue-Sees Con.
gestion Relieved.


congestion and to speed up traGo-
will be made compulsory in tne
model traffic bill now being discussed
by the joint District committee Of
the House and Senate Senator L.
Heisler Ball of Delaware, chairman
of the joint committee, made this
statement today following the ap-
pearance of Col A. B. Barber, motor
expert of the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States, who gave the
committee results Of the national con-
ference on traffic which has just been
concluded.
-ArteriaI highways were recon-
mended to aid trafflc conditions in
the District by the Senate committee
more than year ago." said Senator
Ball, and yet nothing has been done
These highways will relieve conges-
tton very materially and should be
established at the earliest possible
date"
Col. Barber who gave the commit
tee the results OF six months study
OF trafflc in all parts OF the country
as contained in the conference re-
port OF nine national organizations,
strongly urged the creation Of the
boulevard stop system or the arterial
highway in the National Capital.
He pointed out that Connecticut ave
nue. from the bridge to Chevy Chase
Circle would be an ideal street for
this purpose.
FsvOrs 35-Mile Limit.
In this connection" he said a
want to point out that il ADEQUATE
speed is not allowed on these high
ways they will not serve their pur-
pose. l should recommend a speed
Nmit OF 35 miles an hour from Cleve-
land Park to the Chevy Chase Circle.
think that even now, with a speed
limit OF 22 miles per hour. the higher
speed Is more nearly the average"
Col. Barber said that. in his opinion
the District was not taking al
vantage of the traffic lessons learned
and proved successful in other cities.
he pointed out that the conference
OF motor traffic commissioners Of the
eastern States developed many traffic
IDEAS which could easily be incor-
porated in the local statutes.
The time has come" he asserted.
wnen the District must get in step
with general traffic conditions IL
equirment Is needed to better the sit
u@tion Congress- should make the
necessary appropriations, and Con-
gresS should also make 1t possible
for fhe proper traffic oficials here to
attend traffic conferences"
me committee today took no ac-
ton on the tentative bill, which it is
studying. The time was devoted
largely to general discussion with
Col. Barber on all phases OF the traf-
fic conditions
Among the matters discussed were.
General speed limits and q reckless
driving regulation; proper marking
OF zones where lower speed was nee
essary: brake test rules for com
mercial vehicles; percentage of blame
on motorists and pedestrians in cases
OF accidents. and the use of dinners
on headlights.
Col. Barber said that he believed
35 miles an hour should be the maxi
mum speed limit in the OUTLYING sec
tions OF the District
"Is there any section OF Washing
ton where you think that il is safe
TO drive at IS miles an hour?" asked
Representative Rathbone of Illinois.
think there are a great many
places where that speed is safe" an
swered Col. Barber Connecticut ave
nue. Is one and there are other sec
tions where I believe 1t is proper.
Asked his opinion of the use OF
DINNERS, Col. Barber drew a laugh
from the committee when he said that
DINNERS should be used wherever
the streets were properly lighted.
There isn't any such place in
Washington" retorted Senator Jones
OF Washington.
DR.. John A. Harriss, noted traffc
expert of New York City, and Judge
w. Bruce Cobb OF New York, who has
handled thousands OF traffic cases.
VIII be invited to appear before the
Joint committee. Although there is
no desire on the part of the commit
tee to hold hearings on traffic mat
tors, 1t was decided that these men
would be able to give valuable advice
on the tentative bill They will ap-
pear, IL Is understood at the next
meeting of the committee, to be held
January in the Senate District COM
mittee room.