Evening star., 1924-01-07
NEEDS. .OFTRAFFIc
!. ): ): !: !. !: IN CITY OUTLINED
Marrow Streets and Limited
30 Parking Spaces Are Held
.Zf !.
at Fault.

+ Transit and traffic needs of Wash
tngton have already outrun the pro-
, visions for meeting them, and there
have not been sufficient appropria-
tions in the past either to permit
thorough study of the situation or
the timely execution of even such
/ plans as have been adopted.
! Needs of the existing situation
should be brought to the attention Of
Congress with a view to action that
j will bring Washington's street, high
way and transit facilities to a state
! Of adequate and balanced de:eIop-
lpent.
/ 4 The 80 conclusions are reached by
the Washington committee of one
, hundred on the federal city, and
have been reported to the American
Civic Association, which is carrying
on a campaign to acquaint The ma
rion with the needs of this city.
Referring to traffic needs of the
city the committee says: The pro-
/ portion of roadway is not in all cases
suited to present day traffic needs,
! as the streets have generally been
, laid out with rather wide sidewalks
{ and in many cases with reservations
between the sidewalks and the build
, ing lines for grass plots, shrubs and
trees.
As Last Resort.
I /. The effective Froadways> of such
! streets and the consequent number of
! lines of vehicles than can move in
/ Them can be increased by setting the
4 curb lines back and either narrowing
The sidewalks or placing them over
/. part or all of the grass plots. This
procedure will frequently sacrifice
srees, and should be resorted to only
ss the need requires in each case.
1t would be great advantage to
{ round off the corners of the sidewalks
1 at street intersections on a scientific
radius where this ,hassn already been
uone, instead of retaining the rule of
thumb rounded-off corners, which are
T. menace and hindrance to traffic.
! IhiS should, of course, be. done first in
the congested parts Of the city"
"a Favors "Expresso Streets.
The. report backs a project for a
6o-called express streets" in Wash
| tngton in the following language:
[ while the need for wider roadways
there is opportunity for more inten-
siVe use of the existing roadwayS by
speeding up the traffic. Washington
I has a maximum allowable speed for
I with other cities; while in the heart
of the city there is congestion and
confusion at important intersections
because of inadequate traffic control
z replaced by more flexible rules based
Z on safety requirements. Better street
! illumination would also add to the
safety and speed of traffic. ..
Problem of Parking.
\ Regarding parking downtown the
1 committee says:
THE subject of the standing We,
hicle has become of great Importance
+. TO every city, but Washington, in
, proportion to its size, is more for
. tunate than other cities in having
more available space for this pur-
! pose which, If scientifically and eco
Z nomically laid out, could furnish bet
!, ter facilities than are possible else
where. With respect to cars standing
!. in the streets, the relative advantages
of ranking (placing the cars parallel
to the curb), or parking (placing
them at an angle).. and Of ranking
and parking along the curb or in the
! center of the street should be care
fully considered for each type of
Z street. in the light of the experience
Of other cities.
Z 1T is desirable that consideration
I be given to the use of portions Of
. public grounds for parking automo-
biles: also that vacant lots, where
, available, be added to the parking ia
: cilities under mutually advantageous
arrangements. In congested parts of
when it may be profitable to construct
buildings for the storage of cars dur
ing crowded hours.
. There is also an important num-
/. Der of automobile tourists who prefer
. to camp as they go, and thought
should be given to providing addi-
tional space AND facilities for their
accommodation"
4 A. B. Barber is chairman OF the
committee on street, highway and
transit problems making the report,
which has on its membership the fol-
, lowing: Albert B. Berry, E. Roger
Boyle, Charles Henry Davis, William
Phelps Emo, Joshua Evans, jr.; Pyke
johnson, S. NJ Johnson, NJ. w. Lewis,
George A. Kicker. Delos Smith, w. w.
Spaid and c. w. Stark.