Evening star., 1936-02-16
D. c. CONGESTION
IN TRAFFIC CITED
More Cars Enter Downtown
Section Than Chicago Loop,
Van Duzer Says.

washington QOWutOWu SeCtlOu 10
more congested than Chicago's Loop,
w. A. Van Duzer, director Of vehicles
and traffic, says.
Thus, when compared to Chicago's
Loop, one Of the most congested areas
in the country, Van Duzer shows great
need for serious study and steps to
remedy present local conditions.
While there are 10000 motor We
hicles entering the Loop from am.
to pm, there are 100000 cars which
enter Washington's congested area
during a similar 12-hour period. this
despite Chicago's population of over
$500, 900 inhabitants. Totaled with
the number of persons entering the
downtown area by street Car and bus.
$4,000 persons, or more than half
the population of the District, enters
the congested area during this 12-hour
period.
Foreign Cars at Fault.
Twenty-four per cent OF the acci-
dents last year were caused by out-of-
town drivers, because, excluding Mary
land and Virginia, 5000 automobiles
from other States use our streets each
day and a total of 10000 cars are
added each day from Maryland and
Virginia or grand total Of 20 per
cent out-of town cars are added to
the usual burden of traffic each day.
The grouping together Of Govern
ment buildings and increase in the
number of Federal employees is an
other cause for alarm, Van Duzer
declared In a radio address over Sta
ton WMAL Thursday evening.
Each week the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations sponsors a civic
broadcast on current civic problems
over Station WMAL.
This weeks speaker will be Ken
meth P. Armstrong, member Fedora
tion's Executive Committee and secre-
tary Of the Joint Conference OF North
east Citizens Associations.
Armstrong will speak on ''The Vote
less Taxpayer" A former president of
the Burroughs Citizens Association.
Armstrong will discuss the injustice
of the present method Of the ex-
penditure of District taxpayers
money and proposed remedies.
Background of Talk.
Because of the organic act Of 1878
providing for the Federal share of
District expenses on $3.50 basis was
changed to reduce this share to 40
per cent, in 1922, and because this
latter law is still in effect although
the Federal Governments share is
now less than IS per cent, Armstrong
says the present method of District
appropriation is unintelligent and
haphazard.
Appropriations are Influenced by
personal opinions of Congressman
rather than consideration for tax
payers needs, he believes. He intends
to cite some examples of unintelligent
and inequitable appropriations.
He says: THE only remedy is some
form of local self-government. This
is the only plan in accord with Amer
ican principles"
Van Duzer, in his talk last week,
said there has been an increase of
45,308 Federal employees from June,
1888, to November, 1885. With the
completion of new Federal buildings
between Seventh and Fourteenth
streets on Pennsylvania avenue more
than 10000 employees were added to
this area, bringing the total to 10000.
Although staggered hours systems
have been adopted by department
heads since April last year, there has
been an increase of 9,796 employees in
this time and additional congestion
would have resulted had the hours
not been staggered.
More Lights Needed.
There is a reduction of 35 per cent
Of accidents at the 800 traffic light
controlled intersections of the total
of 1900 intersections, he said. There
are about 200 intersections, not hav-
ing lights, which would justify their
use from the number of vehicles en-
tering these intersections. "Of course, !"
he added, traffic lights, If not OBJ
served, do not protect either the Pc
destrian or the motorist."
Additional lights are needed, un-
questionably, and 1--WE believe that
pedestrian lights should be placed at
some of the busy intersections, so
placed that the pedestrian will have
the light in front of him in the direc-
ton in which he is going''
Drivers involved in serious &C
cidents should be re-examined i'm
mediately, as we'll as at the end of
each renewal period, Van Duzer
said. Better results would probably
be obtained by examination each year,
he believes, all of which would require
an additional examining force. To
stop obtaining permits by fraud and
prevent driving on other peoples per-
mits, a photograph of the driver should
be made part Of the permit.