Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
BELT LINE ROADS
PROPOSED BY u. S.
Survey Indicates Outlying
Routes Would Relieve
Traffic Jams.

The need for more belt line motor
roads near Washington to carry through
traffic and cross traffic is seen already
by of1icials of the United States Bureau
of Public Roads, as preparations get
under way for the comprehensive Fed
eral traffic survey of this metropolitan
area.
The benefit OF some Of these outly-
ing roads already has been amply DEM
onstrated by recent developments. ac-
cording to z. w. James, chief of the
Division Of Highway Transport of the
bureau
Mr. James. who is shaping plans now
for the big survey, said yesterday that
one Of the outstanding examples Of the
value of such belt line roads was the
new East-West road on the northern
outskirts Of Washington. in Maryland.
EaSt-West Road Benefit.
Washington was in bad shape" he
said, until that East-West road was
f1nishedR Persons wishing to cross
there had to come all the way south
to Military road to get through. The
East-West read has proved itself of
great benefit"
Just what new roads may be rec
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ton, or where they VIII run, cannot be
foreseen at the present time, according
to Mr.. James. The big traffic survey,
which Is to occupy virtually. q year, is
being made In order to get q mass Of
facts and data upon which to base a
study and conclusions in the matter,
he explained. But 1t already appears
likely, he thought, that some kind of
new belt line motor highways viii be
found necessary and may be rec
commended.
The survey, which is under general
direction CT Thomas H. Macdonald,
chief of the Buresu of Public Roads,
is to begin early in September The
movements of many thousands of motor
vehicles win be charted and analysed
to serve as a basis for a program of
highway improvement for the area.
Daily Record Promised.
The survey is to record the daily
movement of vehicles on the main
trafnc arteries in the region tmme-
diately surrounding Washington. The
information thus accumulated will be
OF highway betterment In this area. The
States Of Virginia and Maryland and
the counties Immediately adjacent to
washington will participate
Elaborate operating schedules for the
survey now are being prepared by ex-
perts Of the bureau, whose experience
covers similar surveys in many differ
ent States. These schedules will fix
the location of hundreds of "trafic
stations" at important intersections and
along principal highways, as well as
the dates and hours on which they are
TO be operated. This is done in order
to obtain adequate "sampling'' of traffic.
If every ,trafhc station were manned
throughout the "a hours Of each day,
an excessive number Of recorders would
/ be needed and the resulting records
would be unnecessarily cumbersome.
Accordingly. the operating schedule,
based ON statistical principles estab-
lished In past surveys, Is so arranged
and so timed as TO obtain sufficient
data with comparatively small corps
Of trained recorders. probably about 90
Accurate Check Planned.
With their schedules In hand. the
recorders viii place themselves at the
points designated when the survey be-
gins. They win be equipped with the
| flaRs and signs to inform vehicle driv-
ers OF the work in progress. and with
report blanks. counting devices etc.
They Will record numbers Of paSSenGET