Evening star., 1936-02-11
LEFT-TURN BAN
DOWNTOWN ASKED
TO SPEED TRAFFIC
Representative Schultz Says
Change Would Cut Ac-
cident Toll.
SUGGESTS ADOPTION
IN TW0.MILE AREA
Whitehurst Explains Plan to Re-
lieve Congestion by Street Wild
ening and Circle Changes.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

BY JAMES E. CHINN.
Elimination of all left turns in a
s-mile area within the congested Sec
ton was suggested today by Repre-
sentative Schultz, Democrat, OF Indi-
ana, as a panacea for some Of Wash
ington's major traffic ills.
Schultz made the suggestion during
o hearing on the traffic situation be-
fore the Special Trafdc Subcommit-
tee of the House District Committee.
He said adoption of the plan would
prevent accidents and, at the same
time, expedite movement OF traftic.
Capt. Herbert c. WhitehurSt, Dis
trict director of highways. was on the
witness stand at the time Schultz
proposed the plan. He declared ne
had not given the proposal any study.
whitehurst, however, gave the sub
committee a detailed explanation OF
the studies made by the Highway De-
partment for relieving traffic conges-
tion through widening OF streets and
redesigning Of circles.
Widening Question Studied.
Capt. Whitehurst began his testi-
mony by pointing out that the High
way Department went into the ques-
ton of street widening extensively
between 1925 and 1881.
There is, however" he declared,
"a great deal of widening necessary,
: especially on streets where traffic has
reached the saturation point. be-
lieve a program of widening should
be worked out and put into effect at
the proper time. I don't believe the
widening should be undertaken until
replacement of a roadway becomes
necessary"
Whitehurst cited the widening Of
Connecticut avenue, Thirteenth street
and H street as projects which have
greatly alleviated traffic congestion.
He said two other widening plans be-
ing given serious consideration are
designed to relieve K street from
Thirteenth street to Connecticut ave-
nue. and M street through George
town.
The K street plan, he explained,
contemplates a center road for fast
moving traffic, fianked by two smaller
service roadways" for slow-moving
traffic and for parking purposes.
These roadways would be separated
by an island" 10 feet wide, which
would preserve the existing shade
trees.
X Street Adaptable.
K street is particularly adaptable
for this plan, Whitehurst. said, because
Of its broad sidewalks.
Three proposals, Whitehurst de-
clared, are under consideration for
by-passing traffic through George
town and relieving traffic on M street,
from Twenty-ninth street to Key
Bridge. The first involves use of
Prospect avenue. The second contem-
plates use of the bed Of the old Ches-
apeake g. Ohio Canal for a highway
which would have a ramp connection
with Key Bridge. The third calls for
construction Of an elevated highway
over K street, from Twenty-ninth
street through Georgetown, which
would have ramp connections with
Key Bridge and Canal road.
Estimates are being prepared, he
said, to determine the probable cost
OF the proposed projects.
Circle-Redesigning Plans.
Chairman Carpenter of the subcom-
mittee next questioned Whitehurst
about plans for redesigning circles.
I'VE have made designs for changing
several circles and studied the condi-
tions around all of them," White
hurst answered. II believe these stu
dies should be continued"
Representative Schultz, who arrived
at the hearing at this time, began
10 question Whitehurst.
What do you think about eliminat-
ing left turns at all corners for, say
an area Of 2 miles?" he asked.
1T might work and it might not"
Whitehurst replied.
II am confident" Schultz declared.
'if the police officials will do that, you
will not only avoid accidents but you
will expedite traffic"
TITS a problem that I have not
studied"
Wants Speed in Improvement.
"Well, you know you are not going
to get much money for street widen
ing. We want to speed up improve
ment of this traffic situation"
Representative Wood, Democrat, Of
Indiana then asked Whitehurst If the
Z circles could be eliminated.
II don't believe they should be elm
mated" Whitehurst answered.
IF you suggest removal of any
circle" Schultz remarked, "you might
rs well pick your spot at Arlington.
Cost Of Subway.
Wood then asked Whitehurst for an
estimate of the cost of constructing q
subway across the city.
TITS hard to tell" he replied; Sub
ways have been built for anywhere
from 100000 to $s,C00.000 mile
The cost in washington would depend
On the routing Of cars. But I don't
think any intelligent estimate can be
made without study and the taking
cf borings."
Schultz wanted to know the cost oi
constructing pedestrian subways un-
der Pennsylvania avenue for use Of
Government workers.
whitehurst said the cost would be
shout SIS, 900 each.
Walter e. Kern, District electrical
engineer, the next witness. declared
the cut In the street lighting appro.
priation In 1894 had resulted in elm
tnation Of the use Of 1,2l5 street lights
ana reduction in the candlepower oi
l,6i5 others.
!. Kern explained the street lighting
system consisted Of 29,7i3 lamps
which cost t7l8,os7 q year to illuni.
nate.
Kern win be recalled to the witness
stand when the hearing Is resumed a'
il am. tomorrow.