Evening star., 1934-01-28
FEDERAL WORKERS
PARKING SPACE CUT
Lack of Provision for Storing
Cars Creates Problem
Here.

Government employees may nave 10
walk to work. not for their health. as
suggested by Senator Kean. Republican,
Of New Jersey. but because no provi-
sions for parking facilities are contem-
plated in present plans for development
OF the Federal building project.
They face an almost immediate loss
OF space for 500 cars due to the elm
ination of the rental parking lot on
Fourteenth street, just south OF the
District Building which is to be taken
over shortly for development Of foun-
tain and park.
These cars then will be thrown back
on the streets, with one-hour parking
restrictions. And, to make matters
worse. Assistant Traffic Director M. O.
Eldridge hazarded the opinion last
night that the regulations might be
made even more stringent after all the
new buildings are occupied.
Survey to Be Made.
He estimated that even If unlimited
parking is allowed on all streets in
the Mall and Triangle, only 10 per
cent of employees could be accommo-
dated. Final decision about the park
ing situation In this area will not be
made, however. until after those build
ings now under construction are oc-
cupied and q survey has been made,
Eldridge said.
The National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission has recommended
that underground garages be provided
for the great mass Of Government
workers cars, but this was rejected by
the Board of Architectural Consultants.
which advises with the Secretary Of the
Treasury over plans for development
Of the Federal building project. 1t had
been the opinion of the Park and Plan
ming Commission that garages such as
the one provided for the use Of the Sem
ators and Representatives on the Capt.
tol Plaza could be made available to
the rank and file of Government en-
ployes.
The Capitol Garage, located Just east
Of the Senate Office Building, has .
capacity of 200 cars.
Each of the 96 Senators is given space
for one car: "a Eepresentatlves are
taken care Of. and the remaining room
is divided between Senate and House
official cars and the automobile OF the
architect Of the Capitol. A subter-
ranean passage connects the garage
with the Senate once Building.
Cost Of Garage.
This garage and the terrace fountain
above it were built at a total cost Of
$772 900. Of which considerably less
than half Is estimated by the archi-
tect's office to have been spent on the
storage space alone.
Space for several hundred cars will
be provided in the Justice Department
Building, the Agricultural Department
Building, the Internal Revenue Build
ing and possibly the Labor Department,
but hardly any one other than officials
will be allowed the use Of these facili-
ties, according to the Treasury. The
thousands of subordinates still viii
have no place to park their automo-
biles.
In 1881. National Garages, Inc. Of
Detroit. was retained by the Govern
ment to make an extensive survey OF
the parking situation in Washington
with relation to the building project.
For months its engineers surveyed,
checked and rechecked the area In the
Mall and Federal triangle. finally sub
mitting a report to the Treasury De-
partment that covered hundreds OF
pages.
Fight to Be Made.
The report never was made public
although secret memoranda were un-
derstood to have been sent to Congress
and the press was given to understand
that construction Of several units Of
garages was recommended instead of q
single, centrally located storage space.
That a determined fight will be con-
Quoted in behalf Of the Federal workers
by the Association for Adequate Park
ing Facilities for Government Employees
was assured by D. E. McQuearry presi-
dent of the organization, who already
has taken the matter up with Chair
man King Of the Senate District Com
mittee. The principal objection he will
have to overcome. however. Is that Of
expense. Members Of Congress now are
decidedly economy minded.
Many of the Government employees
have expressed the willingness to pay
q reasonable fee for parking privileges
in q space provided by the Government,
which they believe eventually would
take care of the Governments invest
ment.