Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-19
TRAFFIC SURVEY
VITAL, REPORT OF
.CO-ORD|NATOR SAYS
Capt. Whitehurst Recon-
mends Plan in D. c. and on
Main Entrances to City.
AUTHORITY AND FUNDS
FOR PROJECT URGED
Points Out Necessity of Developing
Main Roads and Parallel High
ways to Relieve Congestion.

The necessity for a traffic survey
within the District of Columbia and of
the main roads leading to the District
becomes more vital daily, according to
the annual report submitted today by
Capt. II. c. Whitehurst, co-ordinator
and chief engineer of the District En-
makes this one of his chief recommen-
dationS.
THE director of traffic on several
occasions has recommended traffic
counts, and while such counts would
assist the highway department, COM
piete traffic analysis is believed neces-
sary and desirable" The report adds,
1T is urged that authority and funds
for this purpose be secured"
Commenting on the work of his de-
partment in expending s4485124 in the
last fiscal year, Capt. Whitehurst points
out that while considerable progress is
being made in highway improvement,
the main thoroughfare development has
not kept pace with local street improve
ment.
THE necessity for the improvement
of all main roads not fully developed
leading to the neighboring States and
the development of parallel highways
to our main arteries to relieve traffic
COIlkGSllOIl ID cSSSIlIIdl anu DcSOIllhl6
more urgent daily as the volume of traf-
fic increases" the report declares.
Plan to Complete Survey.
1t is planned to complete this year
the survey undertaken during the past
months to ascertain the condition of all
improved streets and roads, Capt.
Whitehurst reports, and the scope will
be enlarged to include all streets and
roads in the District. Development of
parallel highways is often retarded due
to lack of public ownership, so that in
the study being made there will be
included report on ownership condi-
tons with recommendations for acquir-
/, ing the additional right of way believed
desirable.
In addition to the proposed survey of
traffic conditions, ether recommended
tons made by Capt. Whitehurst in
clude:
Adoption of more or less definite
plan and program for the widening Of
congested streets and thoroughfares.
Adoption of the tentative flve-year
bridge replacement program. many
! bridges being characterized as totally
! inadequate for the traffic weights al
! loWable and necessary for modern traf-
/ fic. Others, the report says, are suf-
fering from traffic congestion.
Appointment of a board to make a
thorough study of assessments as ap-
piled to roadway paving with a view
to recommending revision of existing
laws.
REHABILITATION of bidders to deter
mine their financial responsibility.
Revision Of traffic regulations as ap-
piled to truck weights and design to
eliminate types that injure highways
and streets and annual inspection of
solid-tire vehicles.
Urges Closer Coordination.
Closer coordination between existing
agencies dealing with the streets and
Its uses is not only desirable, but essen
tial. the report points out, if the full
value and benefit to be derived is to
result to the public. In order to obtain
such full Use and benefit and to plan
for the future, it is suggested that all
agencies work in close liaison or one
will undo the works of another.
Specific instances can be recited TO
show the necessity for closer co-ordi-
nation of these activities the report
says. Independent functioning can
only result in retarding traffic flow and
capacity to use an extent as to event.
ually require additional and wider road
ways. While street widening is neces-
sary and urgent in many cases. this
method should be reSorted to only when
a full utilization of existing facilities
have been reached. The vehicle capac-
ity Of city streets may be measured
largely by the number of vehicles capa-
BILE of passing through the intersections.
yet it has been the practice of cities to
almost entirely concentrate at or near
intersections such utilities and Access
series as loading platforms and zones.
hack stands, bus stops. etc. resulting in
greater congestion and slowing up OF
traffic than If these necessary utilities
were planned as a whole rather than by
individual groups, resulting often IN
concentration at the same general loca-
ton. Six-lane streets (three in each
directicn) are frequently throttled down
to two lanes Zone in each direction),
retarding the free movement of traffic
flow by the prevailing or customary
street use or layout.