Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-14
TRAFFIC CONTROL
HERE RANKED HIGH
Held Superior to New York's
in United States Survey
by Engineers.

-
washington's system of traffic con.
troll, which recently made the admir-.
able record of going a whole month
without a single traffic fatality" is given
front rank among the larger cities OF
the country in a report submitted to-
day to the American Engineering Coun-
Gil on the results of a survey of traffic
conditions in IS States and in 100 cities
having a total population of more than
$4,000, 900.
The progressive system of traffic con-
troll used over a wide area in Washing
ton is, superior to the traffic system OF
New York, in the opinion of E. P. Good
rich of New York, member of the coun-
ellis committee on street traffic signs,
signals and markings, which prepared
5.le extensive survey. Superior also 70
Few York's system. he points out. Is tHe
Crarrol OF pedestrian traffic in the Ma
tional Capital and the vogue OF ie1t
turns which speeds up through tramc
in the middle lanes.
D.. G. Favored by Wide Streets.
Comparing the traffic situations IN
New York City and Washington, MI.
Goodrich said that Washington has a
physical advantage over New York in
that its streets are for the most part
wider and permit more lanes OF tratlc.
THE system in Washington he con-
tinued, lis a combination OF radial and
cridiron which serves to distribute traf-
5ic. It has one difficulty, that which is
presented by the conditions at multiple
intersections or circles. These circles.
which are the result of Mai. L'Enfant's
careful planning, were designed pri-
marily as a defense measure and not
With any idea that they would day
be traVcrsed by swarms OF horseless
carriages
NOW. instead of cannon shot sweep
ing the broad avenues leading from the
circles. automobiles dart out with speed
almost equal to that of the old-fash-
ioned cannon ball in flight. Neverthe-
less. Washington trafic officials are do
ing Justice to the foresight of Americas
first city planner in the manner In
which they are utilizing the spacious
areas he left free from obstruction"
Engineers in Meeting Here.
Representatives from 80 national and
local engineering organizations In all
parts of the country met this morning
at the Mayfiower Hotel for the two-
day session Of the Engineering council.
President Arthur w. Beresford Of New
York presided. Approval Of the report
on trafiic conditions is expected before
the sessions adjourn tomorrow. w. B.
Powell of Buffalo, is chairman Of the
trafic committee.
The annual dinner of the council will
be held at the Mayfiower this evening
- At~l~.t~ All.nv~Ar mill la vraoAn
by Senator Bingham of Connecticut,
Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Senator Bingham will discuss Com
mercial Airports." Or. Morgan, q mem
Der Of the councils food control com
mittee, will take UP the constitutional
authority Of the Federal Government
to deal with such questions as are in
VOWED in the Mississippi River problem.
Legislation pending before Congress
vital to the engineering profession and
industry generally win be considered at
the sessions Of the council, which wa
organized in 1920. under the presidency
Of Herbert Hoover.
Light Signal System Upheld.
Washington, with greater automobile
ownership per thousand population than
has New York, Mr.. Goodrich said in
referring to conditions here, is solving
its trafic difficulties by means Of the
progressive system Of lights, which
keeps traffic moving at a steady pace.
1T is ahead Of New York in this re-
spect,". he said, since Riverside drive,
in Manhattan, and Ocean parkway, In
Brooklyn, are the only streets in the
metropolis which are equipped with
this up-to-date system Of trafdc con-
troll.
Many New Workers, on returning
from motor trips to Washington, com-
plain of the forced wait before left
hand turns can be made. In this re-
Spects New York traffic regulations,
which, permit lcft-hand turns before on
coming traffic, are the exception in
TRAFFIC regulations rather than the rule.
Few New Workers realize that the rule
In force in Washington is used In far
o cities throughout the country than
is the New York system.
Il am a firm believer. he said, Gin
the rule that left-turn traffic should
be made to wait. BY doing so much
faster movement Of vehicles is made
possible.
Believes in Control Of Pedestrians.
I'm respect to pedestrian traffic, I
am absolutely in favor of It's control
and regulation. Residents of the Dis
Htrict Of Columbia, in common with
Those in most Of the large cities, al
ways excepting the speed-mad New
Workers, have the patience to wait
until they are signaled before crossing
streets.
IF experiments Of this nature in
other large centers are indicative Of the
extent to which this virtue prevails, I
felt safe in crediting Washington Pc
destrianS and motorists alike with
care and patience, since that city re-
Gently made the admirable record Of
going a whole month without a single
trafiic fatality"
According to Mr.. Goodrich, who has
studied trafiic conditions in most of
the large cities of the world, street
railway systems can be run with little
obstruction to traffic and on faster
schedules, thus relieving the transport
tation systems. II the car tracks are
kept clear. In order to accomplish
this, in his opinion, it is necessary to