Evening star., 1936-08-25
TRAFFIC BUDGET
OF $193,29O ASKED
FOR FISCAL YEAR
20 New Signal Lights Pro.
posed by Van Duzer
in Estimates.
SUM FOR EDUCATIONAL
WORK IN SAFETY SOUGHT
"Demand" Signals for Protection
of School Children Also
on Program.

Installation of traffic signal lights
at 20 new intersections at cost Of
$4,000 is proposed by Traffic Direc-
tor William A. Van Duzer in the 1888
fiscal year estimates he has sub
mitted to the Commissioners.
All told, the proposed appropria-
tions for the Department of Vehicles
and Traffic for the next fiscal year
amount to $193 ,290. or S35,650 over
current appropriations.
Adopting suggestions made by the
Carpenter subcommittee of the House
District Committee. which submitted
a report on its findings of traffic con-
ditions in the District late in the past
session, Van Duzer proposed a special
appropriation of $4,000 for educa-
tional work in the interest Of traffic
safety and an item for additional ex-
aminers of applicants for driving per-
mits.
Justifying the proposed installa-
tions of 20 new traffic signals, Van
Duzer said: Our traffic surveys
show there are over 1876 intersections
where traffic lights would be justified,
according to the number of vehicles
and pedestrians entering the inter-
sections per hour.
Minimum Requirements.
I'VE have established a count of
1000 vehicles per hour or $50 pedes-
trians entering an intersection before
the installation of traffic lights will be
considered.
"A check of our records for this
year show that approximately the
same favorable conditions prevail
where signals have been installed Gas
in the past).''
In addition, Van Duzer asked pro-
vision of $1,000 for installation of
traffic demand lights" for the pur-
pose of providing protection to school
children and other persons crossing
heavily travelled intersections. He
said
There are several isolated inter-
sections near schools and churches
where vehicular traffic is exceedingly
heavy on the main street, but where
the cross street traffic does not justify
a fixed time cycle light and where
demand signals are needed. These
lights will give the main street the
benefit of the majority of time, which
lights will be installed so that the
signals can be actuated by school
children and other pedestrians desir-
ing to cross the main flow of traffic. +"
For traffic lights the department
asked a 1888 total of $4,000, as
against $25.000 for this year. In
cluded in this sum would be $6 900
for modification Of existing signals at
II intersections to make them con-
form to the flexible. progressive sys-
TEN now being established. Also
$1,000 is proposed for the repair of
existing traffic signals.
$4,000 for Salaries.
For salaries of employees of the
department, Van Duzer asked $4,000,
an increase of $3.50 over the cur
rent appropriation. This would pro-
vide for employment of nine addi-
tional workers, two of which would be
engineer aides, two assistant clerks.
one additional Junior clerk and four
additional workers in the sign shop.
Van Duzer turned to the report of
the Carpenter subcommittee in sup
port of his proposal for an increased
personnel. He quoted the following
from the report:
That the present appropriation for
personnel of the engineering staff in
the Department of Vehicles and Traffic
should be increased from $3.50 year
to s13,760 a year for additional traf-
fic planning and traffic surveys, and
it is so recommended to the Appro-
priations Committee of the House.
That an appropriation of at least
$4,000 year is recommended to carry
ment of vehicles and traffic in the
interest of safer and better driving.
Sum for Drivers Tests.
THAT the present appropriation for
the examiners of motor vehicle dri-
vers, amounting to Sc $50. be doubled
blldI OIL ollNClS may NC Ic-
examined at the end of the renewal
period (every third year, and that all
drivers involved in serious accidents
may be called in for re-examination
when such accidents occur"
Van Duzer's request calls for the
appointment of two additional exam
liners. or salary increase Of about
half that suggested by the committee.
Carrying out the suggestion of the
special House subcommittee, Van Du-
Ger also proposes an appropriation
Of $4,000 for publicity and educational
work.
The department asks $21 500 to
cover the cost of automobile tags
manufactured at the District Reform
atory at Lorton, as against $4,000
appropriated this year.