Evening star., 1934-03-05
ONE-WAY STREET
CHANGE IS URGED
Trade Board Body Asks Use
of Sixteenth Street In
stead of Thirteenth.

Criticism Of the use OF Thirteenth
street as a one-way thoroughfare and
the suggestion that Sixteenth street
is better suited for such traffic treat
ment were voiced by a special sub
committee of the Washington Board
of Trade in an exhaustive report pre-
sented to its Traffic Committee.
The group headed by Maj S. D.
Ashford, lauded District traffic au-
thorities for their farsightedness in
conceiving the plan of making q
main north-south street one-way dur
ing the morning and evening rush
hours, but found fault with their Sc
lection.
I'VE feel" stated the report, that
the scheme Is step In the right di-
rection and that any comments by
in the nature of constructive criti-
cism, made with a view to develop
ing the system and taking it out of
the experimental stage"
At present Thirteen street is one
way for south-bound traffic between
8 and $3.50 am, and for north bound
IrdIQC between ana pm.
Conclusions Summarized.
The committee reached the follow
Ing conclusions on the present opera
ton of Thirteenth street:
Il. While the geographical location
Of Thirteenth street is excellent for
q one-way arterial highway, its pres
ent physical chara acteristics do not
recommend themselves readily to the
scheme.
q. The width of the street varies
at intervals so that the narrowest
portions determine the maximum
traffic how
"3. The lack of signaled intersec-
tions makes the flow of traffic uneven
and east and west bound vehicular
and pedestrian traffic is made hazard
Gus.
4. The numerous schools and
school crossings along the route are
not favorable to safety with speed.
IS. Logan Circle. an independently
signaled point with respect to T1lir-
teenth street, Is badly congested be-
cause Of simultaneous conveyance
there Of traffic from several feeder
streets.
IS. Thirteenth street hill between
Florida avenue and Clifton street is
. decided handicap, especially in bad
weather.
~. 1t Is questioned whether the 4
to 6 pm. north-bound one-way regu-
lation Is necessary. Certainly, one
hour would be sufficient for the pur-
pose intended"
Advantages Listed.
Sixteenth street is preferable as
morning and evening one-way boule-
ward, the committee states, for the
following reasons:
u. Fewer school crossings.
-. The street is consistently wide
Es entire length.
3. It has only one circle with bet
ter traffic control.
4. It is signaled completely in
congested section.
IS. Signals could be arranged to
conform to and expedite one-way traf-
fic in perfect safety to Sixteenth street
and cross-town traffic during the one
way periods and to return to the flex-
ible progressive system during other
portions of the day.
Is. The need for police would be
limited to motor cycle patrol.
81. The street is paved suitably for
heavy traffic flows
g. The speed and distance to be
Travelled could be controlled at will
by the timing Of the lights.
g. Most Of the intersections are
already marked with white lines and
only intermediate dashed lines would
be necessary.
10. Parking restrictions would not
have to be disturbed from those In
force at present.
IL. Sixteenth street has many
feeders.
"12. It is not believed that the
dead end at H street would work any
harpship, as Massachusetts, avenue,
Fifteenth street, Rhode Island avenue
and Seventeenth street would absorb
much Of the traffic at Scott Circle"