Evening star., 1931-05-17
WHITEHURST URGES
STREET WIDENING
TO SOLVE TRAFFIC.
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SIS, 900 at Logan Circle. The work, he
said, can be undertaken during the
current working season.
Other major items in the program
include removal Of the island at the
intersection of r street and Massa-
chusetts avenue to permit an easier
flow of westward traffic from Sheridan
Circle into Massachusetts, avenue, re-
moval of the center park at the south
end Of Taft Bridge, widening Of the
roadway at the north end of this
bridge, and widening of the intersec-
ton at Eighteenth street and Columbia
road.
Capt Whitehurst based his recon-
mendationS on results Of an exhaustive
study Of traffic conditions at various
points where traffic bottlenecks are
created by restricted roadway areas.
He also has under consideration plans
to facilitate and safeguard traf1ic NOV
ing on the western half of Dupont
Circle and at Fifteenth and H streets
northeast which will involve the re-
moval Of the public comfort station at
the intersection Of Fifteenth street and
Maryland avenue.
Congestion Increased.
Congestion at Thomas Circle due to
the meeting Of several heavily travelled
| thoroughfares in the heart of the city
is well known" said Capt. Whitehurst.
Since installation of traffic lights there
congestion has increased and arrange
! ment of the roadway system, as we'll as
the lighting system and car tracks,
would provide better conditions.
Scott Circle has proven under ac-
tual conditions to be the most salts
factory and logical round-point layout
, in the District of Columbia. 1t salts
! factorily handles heavy trafic in both
| directions. I believe that the arrange
ment proposed for Thomas Circle
would be equally as satisfactory as the
! conditions existing at Scott Circle.
! The plan for Logan Circle proposes
| TO carry Thirteenth street through the
| circle, and in effect also follows the
| Scott Circle plan Of development. ex-
| cept that Thirteenth street roadways
| will pass through nearer the center of
| the reservation. This Is one of the
! largest circles in the city, and the plan
! suggested is superior to attempting al
J additional roadway on the outer edge
. Of the reservation. The relocation oi
, the roadways will obviate any necessity
! for the removal of trees back to the
I curb around the reservation. The exist
ing roadway OF Logan Circle Is very
! marrow and inadequate to carry the
trsflc Of the many streets entering the
circle. 1t is believed, however. that BY
cutting through Thirteenth street, the
! existing roadway around the circle vii
be adequate for the other streets.
New Car Tracks.
The changes proposed at Thomas
Circle would involve some street rail
way track construction, but it Is be-
lieyed that the change would be ad
. vantageous to the street railway com
pany IN that it would facilitate ant
speed up the movement Of street carr
and would leave them with less pave
track s-ea than exists at the presen
time. The existing tracks undoubtedl
require early renewal. and the construc
tion Under the plan proposed will be o
considerable less cost than renewa! Il
their present location"
Capt. WaitehUrss tod the commission
that removal CT the island at the inter
section OF p street and Massachusett
avenue viii eliminate a rather danger
GUS condition CT Massachusetts, avenu
trafhc cutting into z street traffic ct a.
acute angle, and viii provide a direc
flow around Sheridan Circ,e into Mas
sachusetts avenue. Remctal Of tn
center island at the souti. c..d Of til
TAFT Bridge, he explained, VIII pe-lni
two full lanes Of traffic 10 enter tn
bridge area at the same time
The proposed improvement at tn
rorth end Of the bridge cons SIS OF th
widening CT the roadway II Ccnnect.cu
avenue frc.l the nc-th end OF the bridg
10 Calvert street from 95 10 80 fee
The present c2pscity OF this inteiEec
ton, Capt. Whitehurst pointed out
greatly reduced for northbound tram
by the small lane capacity between tn
bridge and Calvert street.
Widening of the intersection q
Eighteenth erect and Columbia roa