Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-23
Changes in Signal Lights
May Result From Sur
vey of Auto Tides.
RHODE ISLAND AVENUE
COUNT TO COME FIRST
Van Duzer Announces Timing Of
Stops Will Be Put on Latest
Flexible Basis.

An exhaustive survey of traffic condi-
tons in the District, the results Of
| which will serve as a future guide for
/ the location of traffic lights and other
traffic signals, is to be started Monday,
it was disclosed today by William A.
Van Duzer, director of the new Depart
ment of Vehicles and Traffic.
Traffic checkers will be stationed first
along Rhode Island avenue between
Twelfth and North Capitol streets, where
the network of traffic lights along this
stretch is to be changed from the linn
/ tied progressive to the flexible progress
sive timing system. The traffic count
at each intersection will determine the
Few timing ratios.
May Eliminate Some Lights.
With the completion of the traffic
check on Rhode Island avenue, Mr.. Van
| Duzer plans to station the staff OF
! checkers along Pennsylvania avenue
/ and from there they will work on the
other streets in the congested area. No
| additional lights, signs or other traffic
devices will be installed until the traffic
count is completed. In fact, Mr.. Van
| Duzer indicated that the survey may
result in the elimination of some of
the lights and other signals now in use.
Mr.. Van DuZer said it would be his
policy to install lights, stop signs and
other devices only at intersections
where conditions warrant them. Con-
versely, lights and signs will be re-
moved where they are not warranted.
/ The traffic survey will show either the
! need of signals or the removal of those
now in service.
! The actual work of changing the
! Rhode Island avenue lights from the
4 limited progressive to the flexible pro-
gressive system will be started July %
and will take about two weeks to COM
plete The major portion of the job
is electrical, and will be done by cleo
, tricianS of the Potomac Electric Power
Co.
Latest Type System.
| The flexible progressive system is con-
Sidered the very latest development in
traffic light control, and traffic Off
Gals believe it will materially improve
conditions and expedite the flow OF
! traffic on Rhode Island avenue. New
timing apparatus, installed in signals,
will permit variation in the timing
at each intersection, so a proper allow
ance can be made for the movement
CT traffic between short and long
streets
/ One master timer now controls the
! timing of the lights on Rhode Island
avenue between Twelfth and First
streets. The lights at North Capitol
street and Rhode Island avenue are in
dependently controlled, but they are to
be cut into the new flexible progress
sive system.
Wide Ratio Possible.
With only one master timer on the
limited progressive system, traffic off,
Gals have found it impossible properly
to regulate the timing ratio at different
intersections to permit traffic to flow as
smoothly as possible, because of the diff
ference in the length of the blocks. The
flexible progressive system, which pro-
| vides a secondary timer, in addition
to the master timer permits a wide
Variance in the timing ratios at each
intersection.
The traffic count on Rhode Island
avenue will not only show the number
. of cars using this thoroughfaTe, but also
the volume of cross traffic. So, in fix
ing the new timing ratios, Mr.. Van
Duzer will be in a position to make
proper allowance for the cross traffic,
allowing more time for traffic crossing
at the busy intersections. such as
| Seventh street and New Jersey avenue,
than at the less congested intersections.