Evening star., 1936-02-06
Dupont Circle Underpass
for Street Cars One
of Suggestions.
NEW DESIGN AT THOMAS
ALSO is RECOMMENDED
Wider K Street and Bypass
Through Georgetown Held
Needed Improvements.
BY JAMES E. CHINN,

A series of recommendation for re-
lieving traffic congestion and making
the streets safer was made today by
Traffic Director William A. Van DuZer
when he resumed his testimony before
special subcommittee of the House
District Committee studying the traffic
situation here.
Outstanding among Van Duzer's sug-
gestions were:
/. Construction of an underpass un-
der Dupont Circle for street cars
2. Redesign Of Thomas Circle to ere.
ate more space for vehicular traffic.
3. Widening Of K street under
plan that would provide 40-foot cen-
ter roadway for fast-moving traffic,
f1anked on either side by smaller lanes
for slow-moving traffic and for park
ing purposes.
4. BY passing of Virginia cars
through Georgetown via a 50-foot
highway constructed on the bed of
the abandoned Chesapeake g. Ohio
Canal.
Underpasses for Pedestrians.
Van Duzer also suggested construc-
ton of pedestrian underpasses at Fiji
teenth street and New York avenue,
Fourteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue and Twelfth street and Penn
sylvania avenue. These underpasses,
he pointed out, would aid in protecting
10000 Government employees who work
in the area south of Pennsylvania
avenue.
Another suggestion Van Duzer made
was for an appropriation for employ
ment of safety promotion director
who would conduct continuous safety
education campaign.
Van Duzer pointed out that these
plans already have been considered by
Capt Herbert c. Whitehurst, director
of highways, and would be discussed
by him in more detail when he Is
called before the subcommittee.
The plan for improving traffic IA
cilities on K street was disclosed by
Van Duzer when Representative Car
| penter, Democrat, of Kansas, chair
man of the special committee called
attention to congested conditions he
observed on that thoroughfare during
a recent traffic inspection tour.
Road Would Tap Ramp.
The proposed bypass highway on
the canal roadbed through George
town, Van Duzer explained, would
lead to a ramp on Key Bridge. This
highway, he pointed out, also could
serve as a link in the proposed me-
mortal highway from Washington to
Gettysburg, over which traffic to the
north and south could be bypassed
through Washington.
THE tightest traffic spot in Wash.
ington," said Van Duzer, lis NJ street
between Twenty-ninth street and Key
Bridge. In the peak of rush periods
it carries $500 vehicles an hour. A
| bypass highway on the bed OF the old
| c. & o. Canal would relieve that situ-
alton"
Van Duzer described the sidewalk
around Thomas Circle as pedestrian
hazard" He said this should be re-
moved, not only to protect pedestrians,
but to provide additional space for
| vehicular traffic around the circle.
The proposal for redesigning the cir
Gle, however, he pointed out, does not
| contemplate removal of the statue of
Gen. Thomas.
Van Duzer was questioned about
the effect on Washington traffic if
Military road in Virginia is closed
through the Washington-H Hoover Air
port reservation. He explained that
any diversion of traffic there would
continue to throw traffic" on to High
way Bridge.
Sees Shift to Pike.
M o. Eldridge, assistant director
of traffic, sitting beside Van DuZer.
added that closing of the road would
merely shunt traffic to Columbia pike
in Arlington County, but that's a
Virginia problem" he said.
At the outset of the hearing Car
penter questioned Van Duzer about
the effect of the recent icy condition
of the streets on traffic. He replied
there were SO accidents Monday,
which represented big increase"
over the same day of the preceding
week, but pointed out there were only
% accidents yesterday. which is "about
normal" George Adams Howard, au-
tomobile editor of The Washington
Star, who conducted The Stars re-
cent trafflc safety campaign, has been
invited by Chairman Carpenter to
testify when the hearing is resumed
| tomorrow at 10 am.