Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-11
Consulting Engineer Urges
Closer Coordination of
Agencies After Survey.
COMPLETE INFORMATION
ON PARKING NECESSARY
Favors Graded Parking Downtown.
Varying Time in Different
Places.

of the Government that have anything
to do with traffic control in Washing
ton, and the arranging of traffic sigma
lights in way that would speed ur
the movement of vehicles were the out
standing suggestions made to a
Senate ub-committee today by j
Rowland BibbinS, consulting engineer
who has been studying local conditions
With the regard to the parking prob
lem, which is the one being given main
consideration by the Senate group,
Mr., Bibbins testified that in his
opinion it would be necessary to gather
complete information as TO who are
the owners of the parked cars. where
they originate, how long they stand and
how much storage space is available
to take care of longtime parkers II
they are excluded from the main
thoroughfare. He said all OF this data
is essential to a reasonable solution to
the parking question.
Must Clear Downtown Area.
Mr.. Bibbins declared that in the
downtown section the time has come
when parkers must be cleared from GER
tain streets because there is no longer
enough free space on those streets for
traflc, The witness also said, however.
that the number of cars that park for
80 minutes or less is surprising. Over a
period of 8 or 10 hours, however, there
are enough Of such cars to take up the
available spaces.
Although he said the time had come
to clear certain streets of parking, he
told the subcommittee that in general he
favored graded parking downtown.
which would mean varying time limit In
different places.
I'VE must encourage day storage Of
cars" Mr.. Bibbins said. 1T Is expen-
sive now and discourages the man OF
average means. Wherever possible
have advocated rear alley garages.
He explained the rear end OF lots
would be cheaper grounds on which
to build storage garages.
Mr.. Bibbins told the committee that
the system already in use by Trafhc
Director Harland Of prohibiting park
ing during the morning and evening
rush hours on whichever side OF
street the heavy fiow Of traffic is moving
Is a good plan.
Colossal BIunder."
The proposal to close Thirteenth
street south of Pennsylvania avenue
in connection with the layout Of new
Federal buildings in the triangle was
characterized by Mr.. Bibbins as "co-
losSal blunder." He said Thirteenth
street is one of the heaviest traffic
arteries and that traffic will have tc
make right and left hand turns upon
reaching Pennsylvania avenue II the
triangle plan is carried out in its pres
ent form.
After today's meeting Senator Hast
ings, Republican, of Delaware, chairman
OF the subcommittee, announced the
close of the hearing for the time being.
He said the testimony would be turned
over to Trafic Director Harland for
study and such recommendation as he
may deem advisable.
Explains Changes In District.
Mr.. Bibbins explained in detail the
recommendations he has already made
to the District traffic council for
changes in the existing system of auto
matte signal lights for the purpose Of
establishing progressive movement OF
vehicles.
Mr.. Bibbins declared that the only
way to get rapid transit here until such
time as SubwayS are built is to have
express bus lines operating on thorough
fares where the signal lights have been
arranged to permit freer movement OF
traffic
Another recommendation made was
that the Traflc Bureau be provided
with sufficient staff and facilities to
make proper engineering surveys OF
changing traffic conditions constantly,
with q complete traffic census every
two years. He said that local organi-
cations have co-ordinated their efforts
by forming the Trafic Council, but that
there was need for closer coordination
among the governmental agencies. He
said the committees of Congress. the
District Commissioners, the Highway
Department, Police Department, Traffic
Bureau, Public Utilities Commission
Zoning Commission, ONCE Of Public
Buildings and Grounds, Park and Plan
ming Commission. Fine Arts Commits
sion and Budget Bureau all bear some
relation to the handling of traffic and
should work in coordination.
Chairman Hastings agreed with this
suggestion, declaring 1t to be the foun-
dalton of any efforts made to improve
traffic conditions here. The Senator
said that next to co-ordinated efforts
the second need is enough money tc
carry out whatever plans are made.
Bus Plan Discussed.
Senator Kean asked how much i'm
provement could be brought about II
motor buses were substituted for street
cars on certain streets.
Mr.. Bibbins replied he has not YET
been convinced that any agency will
handle the rush hour load as well as
street cars. He said buses have an i'm
portant place in the present layout Of
public TRANSFORMATION, but that on busy
streets, such as Fourteenth street, buses
could not move the rush hour crowd al
we'll as the street cars. He added thai
$4,000 people will be concentrated II
the Federal building triangle and thai
their transportation needs will have x
be considered.
Mr.. Bibbins said that when he refer!
to speeding up traffic he has in minC
increasing the average speed, explain
ing that it has been found that dur
ing rush hours on busy streets tn
average speed is only 8 to IL miles al
hour and that in the downtown sec
ton it is only 5 to miles an hou
in places. He expressed the hope tina
these delays in the movement Of train
could be eliminated by the changes rec
commended in the operation OF tn
traffic lights.
The committee was presented with
petition on behalf Of 1890 employees
the naval gun factory protesting agains
the suggested elimination OF nigh
parking.
The petition, offered by Edward F
Williams and William w. Keeler on be
half of the navy yard workers, explaine
that night parking was not "throug
choice" but as a measure Of economy
that many could not afford to reT
garages, even though they were avail
able, and that "it is impossible an
ridiculous to think that garage accom-
nlodations could be obtained.
The petition suggested traffic SUI
=ey should be made here.