Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-11
TRAFFIC ADVISORS
ASK VITAL CHANGES
Committee FavorS Greater
Number of Agencies to
Handle Situation Here.
Continued From First Page)

turn to the old system of making left
turns in the center Of all street inter-
sections, rather than the rotary turn
now in force at NEST CT the intersec-
tons coptrolled by traffic lights or traf-
fic policemen. This recommendation
brought one of the livelieSt debates of
the evening.
The new left turn rule was also
specifically favored in the report of the
subcommittee on operating regulations
and Assistant Traffic Director Eldridge
submitted a minority report urging the
retention of the present left-turn sys-
tenn. He supported this by quoting the
statistics on the low accident and ia
tality rate in Washington. George w.
Offutt, favoring return to the old
left-turn system, pointed out that there
are but two cities in the country with
the rotary left turn-WaShington and
Cleveland. Although Washington has
the lowest accident and mortality rate,
Cleveland, he said, has the highest.
Consequently there seems to be no con-
nection between safety and the rotary
turn.
When the matter was put to vote
the Hoover turn won by a count OF
10 to Z. Mr.. Harland and Mr.. Ed
bridge voted in the negative and AS
Sistant Superintendent E. w. Brown, in
charge of the Traffic Bureau, voted in
the affirmative.
A radical departure in the method of
attacking parking problems was APP
proved by the group when it favored
report by Inspector Brown as chairman
of the Committee on Parking. The re-
port called not only for new regulations,
but for a reversal of the policy which
has in the past been pursued of limit
ing shipping entrances and loading
zones to comparatively small number
in the downtown area.
The principal new parking suggestion
was to forbid parking absolutely in a
restricted downtown section between 3
o'clock and $50 am. except for COM
mercial vehicles actually engaged in
loading and unloading merchandise,
which while so engaged must be parked
parallel and within 6 inches of the
curb. The area in which this would
apply was suggested as from the
east curb of Seventh to the west curb
of Fifteenth streets. and from the south
curb of Pennsylvania avenue to the
north curb of New York avenue, all
inclusive. This recommendation was
based on the survey recently made by
the Park and Planning Commission,
which showed that m aSt Of the 'all-day
parkers" left their cars at curbs be-
tween the hours mentioned. An abso-
hours would get rid of much of the all
day parking problem in the congested
area, the committee felt, as well as
clearing the streets for the free passage
of traffic.
Capt. r. C. Montgomery of the Park
Police objected to the exception in IA
vor of commercial vehicles, but C. H.
Frame of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association won his point
that If no exception were made it would
be impossible to make the many de-
liveries merchants now make in the
early morning hours.
Designed Against Problem.
The new policy of liberality in re-
gard to shipping entrances and loading
zones approved by the council is de-
signed to do away with the problem of
cars parked abreast. The recommen-
dation following the plea for liberal es-
Enlistment Of shipping entrances reads
that double parking be absolutely
eliminated in the District of Column
bia" Mr. Frame objected to this on
the ground that despite all regulations,
merchants would have difficulty in de-
livering their merchandise If not allowed
to park double.
Another recommendation of this
committee was that angle parking
henceforth be prohibited on all streets
of the District. This was enthusiastic
ally adopted without opposition.
Among the many other recommended
tons made by the various subcomnit
tees and adopted by the council were
the following
That an adequate survey be made to
determine the earliest date at which
all-night parking can be eliminated by
agencies employed and directed by the
District Commissioners.
Would Define Area.
That the entire congested area be
established and one-hour parking elimi-
mated between 8 q. m. and 6 pm. in the
following boundaries: South curb of B
from Sixth to Fifteenth streets, west
curb of Fifteenth to Pennsylvania ave-
nue., south curb of Pennsylvania avenue
to Seventeenth. east curb of Seven
tenth to G.. south curb of @ to west
curb Of Eighteenth, west curb of
Eighteenth to l., north curb of L to
Sixth street and east curb of Sixth to
B street
That the following area outside of
the congested area be made two-hour
limit during the same hours. West curb
of Seventeenth to B to F, south curb
of F from Seventeenth to Twentieth.
west curb of Twentieth from F to N,
north curb of N from Twentieth to
Third. east curb of Third from N to B
street southwest, south curb of B south
west from Third to Fourteenth, west
curb of Fourteenth from B southwest
to B northwest and south curb of B
northwest from Fourteenth to Seven
tenth.
That the center row of trees on New
York avenue between Ninth and Thir-
tenth be removed.
That no vehicle shall be permitted
to park on the flow side of flow streets
between am. and $50 am, which
minutes.
That commercial vehicles of one and
one-quarter tons or less be permitted to
operate at the same speed as passenger
vehicles.
Recommend More Police.
That the personnel of the Police
Force be increased so that sufficient
number of officers will be available
traffic regulations.
That no parking lights be required
on vehicles parked on streets where
there is a sufficient light to reveal a
person at distance of 200 feet.
That traffic be laned in the District
in suitable places.
That every policeman engaged in per-
manent traffic work be under the COM
mand of the inspector in charge of
traffic work and receive instructions
in uniform hand-and-w whistle signals.
The committee on automatic signals
signs and markings recommended the
following minimum conditions as a
criterion of the necessity for establish
ing new automatic signals at any in
tersection:
At an intersection involving two
streets, two lanes for traffic on each