Evening star., 1935-04-03
.ADDEDCONGEST|ON
by TRACK CHANGES
DENIED BY ELGEN
Utilities Commission Chair.
man Answers Criticism of
Roberts on G Street.
CITES ENDORSEMENT
OF TRAFFIC DIRECTOR
Plan Contemplates Complete Elm.
ination of Turns at Four
teenth and G Streets.

Answering criticism voiced by Peo-
pies Counsel William A. Roberts, the
Public Utilities Commission today in
sisted the changes in the trackage
of the Capital Transit Co. in the
downtown section, voted yesterday by
the commission, would not increase
traffic congestion.
Riley E. Elgen, commission chair
man. said its view was supported by
positive declarations by Traffic Di-
rector William A. Van Duzer. who
made technical studies of the matter.
The dispute revolved around the
commissions plan for the construc-
ton of street car tracks to make
connection from G street into Fiji
| teenth street so as to connect with
| the Pennsylvania avenue tracks in
| front of the Treasury.
This was ordered as part Of the
plan to remove one pair of tracks on
New York avenue between Fifteenth
and Fourteenth street and one pair
on Fourteenth street between New
York avenue and H street.
Shuts Of Autos.
| Roberts contended the change,
! which will bring G street cars
| through the intersection at Fifteenth
street, New York and Pennsylvania
avenue to such an extent as 10 destroy
the use of Fifteenth street as an auto
mobile thoroughfare. Elgen explained
that part of this plan calls for
an elimination of the tracks for north
bound cars now making the right
turn from Fifteenth street into New
York avenue.
Elgen also explained that after the
changes are effected street cars no
. longer will make any turns whatever
/ at the intersection Of Fourteenth and
G streets. The plan is to have
straight crossovers there and to elm
! mate turns now made which cause
! the confusion of automobile and
street car movements. The curves in
the tracks there have not been or
/ dered out, but have been retained for
/ use only in cases of emergency, Elgen
/ said. He believes other changes made
/ possible by the track changes will i'm
prove rather than further congest
/ traffic on the downtown streets.
{ Il
In selecting the G street connection
plan. in preference to proposals for
! laying of tracks on Fifteenth street,
| between New York avenue and H
street. or on H street between Four
/ teenth and Thirteenth strets, and
/ new tracks on Thirteenth street TO
make a connection with F street, the
| commission said;
The G street proposal would not
require street widening or the laying
] Of substantial amount of new track,
nor was it the subject of serious
opposition from interested persons. In
/ fact, a slight extension of tracks on
G street to Fifteenth street would
not cause radical change in con-
! ditions in the block. Owners and
occupants of adjacent property and
/ the public have been accustomed to
/ the situation on G street for many
years.
| The use of G street as proposed
would permit retention of established
delivery points and the maximum
use of transfer privileges. The use
! of G street was proposed in one or
more of the plans of all the experts
| appearing in this case. including
those of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, the Utili-
| ties Commission and the company
In addition. the director of vehicles
and traffic unqualifiedly indorses this
proposal