Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
STEPS TO END ROAD
CONGESTION URGED
Total Auto Ownership of
100000 in America
Is Forecast.

America ana naJlOnal highway Sys-
TEN linking up all important points, G
D. Hastings. chairman OF the board OF
the Hupp Motor Car Corporation, cites
two Immediately necessary items If this
country is not to further clog up its
highways.
These two items are the creation OF
q centralized Government bureau to CO.
operate with State and local agencies In
roadway construction and prepare a
uniform traffic survey of coming needs
and an increased good roads appro-
priation by the Federal Government. Sc
as not to let up on the efficient work
done in this regard to date.
"A tremendous engineering problem
the like of which has never been ex-
perienced in world history, is just be-
ginning to dawn on America" declares
Mr.. Hastings. II refer to the fact that
the enormous congestion now being ex-
perienced in our metropolitan centers
Is but the beginning of similar condi-
ton which will shortly extend with vari-
ationS, to every section of the country.
No other nations are confronted with
such tremendous traffic problems of the
near future as is our own. While other
countries may be faced with the 11eces-
sity of moving traffic of all kinds
through densely populated districts. this
country faces such a problem, inten-
sified by the nature of our cities plus
an insistent demand that each section
be closely linked with every other part.
Expends $615,O0O, 900.
1.-THE Federal aid highway system,
which has been of inestimable value to
the motorists and economic interests of
this country, was established in 1918.
To date its has expended, in joint CO.
operation with local agencies, approx
n1ately $615, 100000 in highway con-
Struction. And this annual expenditure,
which has now grown to about SIS, 000,-
600, has become but a drop in the
bucket if we are to anticipate the traffic
needs Of the future.
THE reserve funds, created by funds
appropriated in advance of their use by
the Federal Government, have provided
an essential accessory to the annual ex-
penSes for road construction. That bal
ance is now about used up. And still
We are faced with the fact that we have
but made a start in the direction of
adequately providing for future traffic
needs.
1T is not impractical to plan our
street and highways systems for the
travel of 100000 motor cars. 1t
is likewise not impractical to plan on a
great system of national highways which
will closely link one section of this
country with every other district, with
paralleling roadways for travel in oppo-
site directions. This past year 1t was
estimated that approximately 100000
persons visited Government parks, many
OF whom used motor car or bus lines
for such trips. This staggering figure
does not include single mention of the
every day business and pleasure use of
automobiles, nor the tremendous mileage
rolled up daily by motor trucks in the
interest Of commerce. And it is not a
conjecture to say that the total passen-
ger cars in the United States will do
annually somewhere around $4,000, 000,-
600 miles, not including BUSES and
trucks.
Approaching Calamity.
I'm many sections of the country and
IN some Of our prideful cities a large
part of this mileage is being daily run
OF on streets and roadWayS that were
constructed of materials and in speci-
fication purely for horse-drawn vehicles.
In many of our larger cities this con-
oition is rapidly approaching calam-
1ty. 1t is but matter of months and
already certain sections have noted its
approach that the rural districts will be
faced by a. similar problem.
II believe there are certain things
toward which we can work which will
help to relieve the situation and per-
haps bring some measure Of relief to
posterity.
First, and believe most important.
the Federal government should devise
means for doubling and then TRIPPING
the amount OF money it can spend in
dauAlnri110. in6 7
believe further cooperation and swifter
progress could be attained if separate
bureau or department were to be Great
ed by the Federal government whose
hrst job would be to intensively study
the coming traffic needs of every sec
ton OF the country. Another stable task
would Immediately confront this govern
ment organization-that of mapping out
a comprehensive national highway sys-
TEN, not only to cross the United States
from east to west and north and south.
but to recroSS the continent in these
four directions and then cross again.
Such a plan should include several
important features, namely:
Wider roadways paralleling each
other Tor travel in opposite directions,
OF heavier and deeper material; adop-
ton OF universal traffic signal codes.
signs and ordinances; separation or
elimination of all grade and rail- cross
lngs on main traffic arteries; separation
OF motor car and bus traffic from truck
trafnc wherever possible, and a distri-
putlon OF increased roadway funds to
those sections and cities where traffic
TeIieI Is immediately necessary.
The Parking Problem.
obviously, municipalities, particular
~ those larger centers, must contribute
tnelr own salvation by improving local
conditions. While many of the above
features are applicable to metropolitan
centers, there are certain problems in
herent IN large centerS, which must be
provided with solutions
"Of paramount Importance in this
connection is the parking problem
Paris Is constructing the first under
ground garage. Doubtlessly this is the
nrst step in one of the two directions
IN which it is possible for parking to
60 The other is up. 1t will not be lone
until our larger centerS of population
Will drive conveniently near to their
business or shopping, park their auto
mobile In a subway garage or an over
mead parking lot, or perhaps on the very
foof OF the building in which they will
transact their business or pleasure. In
some OF our cities this has already
been accomplished, and tenants and
customers may now park their cars on
the same floor on which they transact
their business. This is another step for
ward. Ramp garages have pointed the
way in this country. 1t is not too much
to expect that parking engineers Of the
future will be trained to provide space
for cars where only thin air or solid
earth was before. Elevated street park
ing could be accomplished by side ways
, of the elevated through roads that are
bound to come. In outlying districts
there will be installed in future years a
dip system for cross streets. Such ele-
waited superhighwayS across city will
be approached by ramps and motor cars
will travel at speeds prohibited and i'm
possible on surface roadwayS.