Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13

out crowding Some cities begin to ap-
pear as II this were being attempted
with the movement converging upon
them.
Two things stand out In the trafffc
surveys which have been made in vari-
Gus cities in recent Misunderstanding
facilities are not being used to the full
extent and some trafic regulations are
il-advised.
Safety must be emphasized. all agree,
but congestion accentuaLed by safety
regulations often defeats the purpose of
such regulations by creating new haz-
ards. Auto accidents rank third in the
long list, being outranked in number
b. industrial accidents and home &C.
cidentS, but are first in fatalities with
record OF more than $4,000 q year,
IS per cent of the victims being pedes-
TRANS. The annual cost of auto acct
dents In the United States is around
$3.50, 000, 900.
State highway departments last year
spent $82l 900, 900, OF which $3.50, 0O0,-
600 was for construction and acquisition
of rights of way, and asa, 900 600 for
maintenance. Counties, towns and dis
tricts spent more than $750, O00, 900 for
local roads and bridges, including about
$3.50 200, 900 for construction and $685., =
100000 for maintenance. The two
groups have approximately $4,000 600, =
600 outstanding in road bonds and
notes.
Cities are spending more than half
billion dollars in street construction
and maintenance, with the progressive
increase mounting dizzily. But this
does not represent the full cost of traf-
nc to municipalities, by any means
consider the price OF traffic control
systems, with augmented police forces,
Tor instance, and the necessity for bet
ter street lighting facilities. study
OF New York State municipalities dis
closed that whereas 1853 per cent of
the city debt was attributable to street
improvements in 1918. the proportion
had risen to 26.19 per cent by 1926.
Ambitious plans for relief of traffic
congestion have been laid before vari-
Gus municipalities. Some of them in
volve such important and expensive
questions as double-deck streets A
see, O00, 900 program has been suggested
Tor Chicago alone. STRENGTHENING
dred cities, some Of them being exc
cuted at high cost, owing to the neces-
sity OF purchasing property.
Two phases of the congestion problem
are uppernost: One involves suburban
areas: another the business districts
The auto has done much to spread
cities over larger areas; now trafic
lanes carrying residents of outlying
sections to and from work and shop
ping IN cities are overburdened.
Thorough study of the local situation
was recommended at the committee
meeting last week. Two plans were
suggested for simultaneous application,
one looking toward immediate relief by
increased use Of existing facilities; the
other . longtime program adopted
after peering into the future. Neither
Is recommended without careful
survey.
Full development Of existing facili-
ties means elimination of bottle necks,"
eficient use Of parallel streets, recon-
struction Of ill-advised traffic control.
widening OF intersections, etc. One
city survey showed that 80 per cent of
! through trafdc passed into the con-
gested business district.
States are helping municipalities with
their street problems in nearly a dozen
cases. Five States now conduct and
maintain, or help to maintain, the
State highways which pass through
towns and cities in order to assure
uniformity. New York has taken over
all county roads as state function
Some cities forbid parking in congested
areas; many others are considering the
move. And meanwhile the number Of
autos increases.
CcopyriEht, 1922