Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-08
UNIFORM TRAFFIC
L|GHTSARE SOUGHT
Survey of Situation Ordered
at Meeting of District
Council of A. A. A.

Something must be done in the near
future toward linking together the va
rious at present unrelated trafflc light
systems in the Capital, it was generally
agreed by all parties concerned, mclud-
ing Traffic Director w. H. Harland, at
a meeting of the District Traffic Council
last night in the boardroom OF the
American Automobile Association.
To that end j. Rowland Bibbins, con-
sulting engineer, whose report on par
tial survey of the traffic situation in the
Capital was presented the meeting last
night, and Traffic Director Harland
were instructed to get together, consider
the points where coordination of traf-
fic light systems is most needed at pres
ent and figure the approximate cost OF
installation of the necessary machinery,
so that the matter can be presented to
Congress by the council at the earliest
possible date.
Last nights meeting started out with
a clash between Mr.. Harland and Mr.
Bibbins over points stressed by Mr.. Bib
bins in his 75-page report on a master
signal plan as adapted to Washington
and the criticism contained IN Mr.. Bib
bins report that under the present light
system in the Capital the capacity OF
the streets IS not used to the fullest ex-
tent and that thereby traffic is impeded
by the lights.
Advocate Of Speed.
Under what he termed the pro
gressive" system of traffic signals, Mr..
Bibbins claimed that speed on the
streets would be greatly raised without
attendant cutting down of the safety
factor. Mr.. Harland took issue with MI
Bibbins on several details OF his plan
and lively clash between the two traf-
fic experts ensued for about half an
hour. The discussion waXed warm, but
was brought to a close when question
ing by several members of the council
disclosed the fact that Mr.. Harland Is
in hearty sympathy with the general
plan as outlined by the Bibbins report
and is planning to coordinate his traf-
fic light system as soon as possible.
While no definite action was taken on
BibbinS' report. the document was held
by the council to embody practically
all the details Of the principles OF
traffic light installation approved by
the council two and a half years ago.
At that time the council called for ex-
tensive study and traftic counts to de-
termine the actual needs Of the city,
then installation of co-ordinated
traffic light system designed to make
the best use Of the streets in the Cap
ital and to expedite traffic flows at the
highest rate without jeopardizing the
safety factors.
Controversy Is Stopped.
It was upon the motion of j. H.
Hanna, president Of the Capital Trac-
hot nihhinc
Harland stopped their technical dis
cussion of the merits and dement's OF
their respective systems of traffic con-
troll, and also upon Mr.. Hanna's motion
that the two experts were detailed to
find out how much the change to the
co-ordinated system Of light control
would cost.
The council also asked the experts
to find out how much a survey of traf-
f1c conditions by a qualified engineer
would cost. While no definite action
eral approval Of the suggestion made
by Mr.. Bibbins that thorough traf-
fic survey should be made at least every
two years. Mr.. Harland estimated that
such a survey would cost about $35, 900
and would be cheap at this price.
Representatives of the traction COM
panies, the Board Of Trade, the Amer
lean Automobile Association, the Cham
Der of Commerce, the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association, the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations, the
Commercial Vehicle Owners AsSocia-
ton and the Automotive Trade Associa-
ton make up the membership of the
Traffic Council, which acts in an un-
official, advisory capacity in traffic mat
tiers in the Capital.
The meeting was adjourned without
definite action on the BibbinS report,
subject to call by the chairman, George
w. Offutt, jr.