Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
TRAFFIC SURVEY
MAY END KNOCKS
Study Expected to Show
Autos Follow Streets With
Best Control.
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.
Many objections raised by local
motorists against traffic control
methods in use in Washington are
expected to meet with definite refuta-
ton when the results of the traffic
count recently completed are fully
formulated for careful analysis.
Traffic officials are looking forward
to the count shaping up as vindica-
ton of the means they have taken
to expedite vehisular movement. The
results will show, they believe, that
generally speaking their designation
Of certain streets as holding a place
of greater Importance in the scheme
of things than others is correct and
can be backed up by figures showing
accurately the volume Of traffic on
these thoroughfares.
will Prove Lights Value.
A case in point is the group of
streets now controlled by the electric
signal lights. One hears continuously
the statement that traffic has moved
to streets Immediately paralleling
those equipped with the lights,
Whether it is true or false is largely
a matter Of opinion until there are
actual figures on which deduction may
be predicated.
That Fifteenth and Seventeenth
streets are traversed by an unduly
large number of cars which have been
detected from Sixteenth street is al
most certain to meet with refutation
from the actual count of vehicle
using all three streets.
Massachusetts avenue and Rhode
Island avenue in the sections where
the electric signals have been installed
likewise should show a heavy volume,
since 1t is the firm belief of those who
have studied the ebb and flow of traf
fic in the National Capital that the
electric control lights not only must
follow density of traffic but that vol
ume follows the streets where the
lights have been placed.
Little Change Seen.
Traffic authorities expect the count
just completed to supply the much
needed data by which methods now in
vogue may be continued or modified.
They do not look for the modification
to loom in very great proportions,
since the figures, they believe, will
show that Washington, for example,
not only needs boulevards but has a
group Of them now which are accu-
rately designated.
Although the count was completed
two weeks ago, such a huge mass of
figures was gathered that it has kept
corps Of statisticians at work since
that time compiling the data collected.
Compilation of the figures is virtually
complete and the next step is the
preparation Of flow" maps and a
series of computations which will give
an accurate picture of how traffic is
flowing through the principal arteries
Of the District of Columbia.
The traffic officials study of the fig.
ures Is expected to confirm many of
their present opinions regarding the
manner in which Washington traffic
should be handled.
Careful observation of the use of
various streets in the city supplies
rather reliable ground for forecast
ing many Of the trends which are ex-
pected to be given confirmation by the
traffic count. These deductions may
be stated somewhat as follows:
Avenue Heavily Travelled.
1t is believed that Pennsylvania
avenue will show perhaps the great
est volume of traffic of any thorough
fare In the city, taking into consider
alton its use throughout the day. The
volume of traffic on Pennsylvania
avenue is heavy in both directions, so
that the highest count is expected to
be shown about half way between the
Treasury and the Capitol.
Pennsylvania avenue southeast also
Is heavily travelled, a large number of
cars using this street as an approach
to the Pennsylvania avenue and
Eleventh street bridges and to the
Navy Yard.
The count should show that Six.
teenth street is traversed by one of
the largest streams of traffic in
Washington, and, Furthermore, that
the volume of traffic accommodated
on this street, instead of diminishing
after the installation of the electric
control lights, has increased.
Il Street Is Buster.
Previous surveys of this thorough
fare have indicated that it continu
ously surpassed parallel streets in it's
traffic movement, and the recent
count, being the most accurate yet
much more confirmation of deduc-
tons based on close observation and
previous figures.
Particular interest attaches to the
figures for the number Of vehicles
counted on streets in the business
district. 1t Is likely, however, that
such streets as + and G streets will
show totals that will be moderately
large compared to such thoroughfares
as Pennsylvania avenue or Sixteenth
street. Il street, since it's widening.
has become more and more a we'll
traversed street from Thirteenth street
eastward, because Of the quick APP
proach it provides to Union Station,
and the absence of cars stopping or
pulling out from the busy shops as
along F and G streets.
Traffic authorities look for the count
of vehicles to suggest the keynote to
many improvements in the present
traffic movements.
80 EnumeratOrs at Work.
1t is expected that actual figures
will indicate that some streets are
unduly patronized in proportion to
others that are equally capable of
ing in straight line for a consider
able distance. A series of bypass
streets, so-called may be worked out,
so that traffic may be expedited by
encouraging motorists to travel those
streets rather than continuing on,
let us say, Pennsylvania avenue, to
reach the Navy Yard.
The traffic count was in progress
for 10 days. Eighty enumerators,
under the supervision of Maj. b. T.
Root, were stationed at strategic in
tersections, and their count ran
throughout the day.
Traffic officials are of the opinion
that the count will solve more than
one problem of regulation and the
designation of street use. The recent
count is the first large -scale enumera-
ton yet undertaken systematically
with trained personnel and expert di-
raction Accordinplv its nossihilitieS