Evening star., 1928-12-16
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.

W
| opposition to this splendid CAM
paign of the Traffic Bureau
which is bound to be OF great
benefit to all law-abiding motor
lists and citizens of the District
of Columbia, and which cannot
rightfully be considered harmful
to any one, even in the slightest
degree, is disgusting. to say the
least. AS a matter of fact, If the
association persists in fighting the
reform being carried out by the
J Traffic Bureau, intend to resign
my membership in the aSSocia-
ton, and it would not surprise me
if other members decide to do
likewise" The letter was signed.
Another communication of in
tereSt reached Mr.. Harland re-
Gently, resulting in considerable
correspondence, and change of
heart in the original writer Of
these latter letters. The first let
ter of this correspondence is as
follows:
hCSASLCAo a NOIAPAahts
Fifteen minutes from the mid
die of Connecticut Avenue Bridge
to the entrance of the Zoo! This
is the first night the new traffic
lights were in operation along the
avenue near Wardman Park
Hotel.
Two weeks later it still takes
me from five to seven minutes to
travel between the same spots any
time between 4:45 and 5:45 pm,
due. as far as I can tell, from the
poor timing of the traffic lights.
The great bulk of the travel is out
Connecticut avenue at that hour,
and it certainly seems reasonable
that the greater time by far
should be allotted to through
boulevard travel,
Il have lived in Cleveland Park
for the past six years, and the
only delay have ever experienced
in that time has been since the
installation of the lights in queS-
ton. One red-haired traffic Of
ficer stationed at Woodley road
and Connecticut avenue kept
traffic moving smoothly in both
directions until these lights were
installed. Please either restore
him to duty there or rearrange
the timing of the lights.
"As the matter stands now you
have done one of the best little
pieces of work for the retardation
of suburban development that /
could think of-and a continual
ton of the lights along this i'm
portant thoroughfare would GER
tainly create a demand for down.
town apartments. SuburbaniteS
simply could not get home in
time for their evening meal.
Please investigate for yourself,
and see if it can be remedied And
while you are at it please note
that three times during the past
10 days the streets on the hill on
Connecticut avenue in front of
the Highlands have been flushed
during the rush hour of the morn
ing-around 8:45 am"
Mr.. Harland's Answer.
Mr.. Harland answered as fol-
lows:
This will acknowledge receipt
of your letter of December 6, 1928,
with respect to the traffic condi-
tions on Connecticut avenue due
to installation of traffic signals.
I'VE. have carefully watched the
operation of these signals ever
since they were installed and find
that they are performing very
nicely the function for which they
were installed. Yours is the first
complaint received as to any de-
lays since the night they were put
into service, which naturally
brought about some congestion.
I'm the installation of any traf-
fic light system the pedestrian as
well as vehicular traffic is given
consideration and the lights on
Connecticut avenue are so timed
to permit pedestrian to cross the
intersection on green signal be-
fore it changes to red.
owe have received number of
complimentary letters on this in
ssallaticn and feel that no change
is necessary at this time"
A Change of Heart.
To this the writer replied as fol-
lows:
Il thank you for your courteous
and prompt reply to my recent
letter relative to the stop lights
on Connecticut avenue near
Wardman Park Hotel.
Perhaps I was just a little bit
late in voicing my protest, for it
so happened that the very day 1
mailed my letter to you I was
able to go directly out Connecticut
avenue with no delay whatsoever
It was then about 5:45 pm.
"PedeStrian travel across Con-
necticut avenue at Woodley road
and Cathedral avenue is very light
indeed, and I still feel that a little
longer time might be given to the
through traffic on the avenue to
the advantage of all concerned.
However, I bow to your greater
experience and to your full au-
thority in the matter.
II appreciate the many Difficult
ties that beSet Washington's traf-
flc director, and do my best to
help by observing very meticulouS-
ly all stop signs, traffic lights,
etc"
The lot of a traffic director is
not very happy one.