Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Declares Recommendation
for 81 New intersection
Lights Only Suggestion"
"A. A. A. VICE PRESIDENT
AROUSED AGAINST PLAN
Redraft of Estimates Predicted at
District Building-Action by
Commission Delayed.

Announcement yesterday that VII
liam A. Van Duzer, director of traffic
and vehicles, had submitted budget es-
Inmates to the Commissioners for 1888
calling for the installation of traffic
lights at 81 intersections brought the
statement from Mr. Van Duzer that
he merely had suggested that studies be
made Of the traffic situation at the
intersections listed and that no addi-
tfonal lights would be installed unless
the traffic count justified them.
The recommendation estimated that
the new lights and current expenses of
the Trafic Department would cost
$27S,901, an increase of more than
100000 over the appropriation for
1892.
Redraft Seen.
At the District Building it was pre-
dicted that Mr.. Van Duzer would re-
draft his recommendations. It was said
that he had made the recommended
tons with a view of obtaining q sub
stantial sum so he could install lights
where they later appeared to be needed
Action on the estimate was delayed
due to the absence from the city of
Commissioner Herbert B. Crosby, Mr..
Van DuZer's superior
Under the heading of justifcationE
for increases In 1888, Mr.. Van Duzer
said:
"For purchase and installation of traf-
fic light signals and equipment, Sill ,34l
an increase of $76,341. To complete the
change in signal control apparatus from
limited to flexible progressive system at
~ intersections at an estimated cost OF
1888 per intersection. To install new
flexible progressive traffic signals and
equipment at 81 intersections at which
automatic control is urgently needed, at
$1,000 per intersection, as follows:
Pennsylvania avenue. Is intersec-
lions between Sixth and Twentieth
streets northwest
Florida avenue and on u street
seven Intersections
H street northwest. between fourth
and Thirteenth streets, FIVE intersec-
tions.
Nine on Connecticut Avenue.
Connecticut avenue between K
street and Florida avenue northwest.
nine intersections.
Capitol Plaza, 10 intersections.
Miscellaneous intersections for which
requests for signals have been received
and are now being studied, 10 intersec-
tions.
TO change the control apparatus and
install detectors at % present isolated
trafhc control intersections at $1,000
per intersection. A blue print showing
above listed locations will be submitted. =
Ernest M. Smith, executive vice presi-
dent OF the American Automobile AsSo-
citation, said Of the recommendations:
Hits Light Plan.
81 want to make it clear that I have
no desire whatsoever to make it harder
for a new man coming on job by cast
ing lot of criticism at hun.
But it seems to me that this latest
proposal of Van Duzer's to flood thu
city with traffic lights when there are
altogether too many Of them now ought
to be turned down. Our experience
with traffic lights indicates they only
serve to block traffic and in many cases
now where intersections are controlled
by automatic signals they serve only to
stop an even flow of traffic. To place
lights all over the city would mean
that trafiic all over town would move in
a series Of jerks and stops"
Washington, by its very nature as a
tourist town, Mr.. Smith said, should
have more policemen where trafhc lights
are operating. The DEVELOPMENT of
trafic devices came about largely be-
cause Of q shortage Rf policemen" he
men as controllers Of the traffic.
Il am firmly opposed to more traffic
lights in Washington, more especially
with the bicentennial year and its
heavy f1ow Of trafhc in the offing.'