Evening star., 1936-03-08
FuII-Time Basis Would Al.
ternate Direction on 4.
Hour Schedule.
CIRCLE WALKS, CURB
DEEMED UNNECESSARY
Widening of Twelfth South of
Constitution and Use of
Mall Streets Urged.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


uation from the clouds by members OF
the Special Traffic Subcommittee of
the House District Committee and po-
lice and traffic authorities produced
several ideas yesterday for relieving the
rush h-hour traffic tangle.
In the Goodyear blimp Enterprise
the group floated over Washington,
while Government workers, freed for
a half holiday, scurried away from the
Triangle area south of Pennsylvania
avenue. After careful observation the
investigators came to the conclusion
that conditions might be improved if
the following plans are carried out:
l. Put on a full-time. one-way basis
streets in the congested section which
are now one way only during the
morning and afternoon rush periods.
The plan, however, contemplates max
ing them one way for southbound traf-
flc between am. and noon and one
way northbound from noon until pm.
illumination of the sidewalks
around Thomas and Dupont Circles
and the halo curbing around Scott
Circle, so as to provide additional
space for movement Of vehicles.
3-Widening of Twelfth street south
of Constitution avenue to eliminate
the existing bottleneck between Con-
stitution avenue and Water street.
4-Educate motorists to make more
use of the two new streets through
the Mall.
Committee Impressed.
Those who made the expedition in
the blimp were Representatives Car
penter, Democrat, of Kansas, chair
man of the Traffic Subcommittee;
Reed, Republican, Of Illinois and
Wood, Democrat. of Missouri and
Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer
and Maj. Ernest w. Brown, superin-
tendent of police.
Carpenter said the group had been
impressed with the slow movement of
traffic out Of the triangle area due
to the fact the rush-hour one-way
streets are not one way on Saturday
at ! pm. The only solution. he said,
is to make these thoroughfares one
way permanently, but on a system that
will handle the greatest volume of
traffic at the proper time and every
day in the week. The simplest plan.
therefore, he pointed out, is to permit
southbound traffic to use the streets
from am. to noon and northbound
traffic from noon to pm.
The group, Carpenter pointed out,
also observed considerable congestion
around some of the circles, particu-
larly Dupont. Scott and Thomas. He
believes widening of the roadways
around each of them by eliminating
sidewalk space. might bring about an
improvement.
Will Resume Hearing.
The Traffic Subcommittee will re-
sumo its hearings Tuesday at 10 am,
at which time representatives of auto
| mobile clubs will continue to give their
views on traffic conditions, and sug-
| gestions for driving death from the
highways. In the meantime, the sub
committee will continue its investiga-
tion of traffic ticket fixing"
The subcommittee decided to 90 into
the traffic ticket fixing" question after
Burton w. Marsh, of the engineering
department of the American Auto
mobile Association, urged an absolute
ban on such a procedure.
There is definite relationship. i"
he said, between ticket-fxing and
accidents"
Chairman Carpenter called on Mai
Brown to furnish information as to
the number of tickets fixed" last
year.
I'VE are going to find out the extent
of ticket-fixing," declared Carpenter.
I'VE want to know if there is such an
evil which ought to be stopped. The
charge of ticket-fixing is rather seri-
Gus and don't think it should be
passed over lightly"
Unable to Get Information,
Marsh said he had made efforts to
procure information on ticket fixing,
but had been unable to get it. He
| pointed out, however, that such in
formation had been given him in other
cities.
I'VE know" he declared, what went
into the machine in Washington-the
number of arrests-but we don't know
what came out
Il don't see why Congress can't
have that information" remarked
Wood. How can we proceed with
our traffic study if we are not in
formed?"
Marsh discussed in detail a 10-point
program for improving the traffic
situation. In addition to the aban-
donment of ticket fixing, 1t included:
Effective enforcement, an increase
In the traffic department personnel
heavier penalties for driving while
drunk, Tightening of the safety re.
sponsibility law. improvement of street
and highway lighting, better protec.
tion Of pedestrians, and comprehen.
sive survey by competent specialists
Of the entire traffic and transporta.
tion needs of the Police Department
Carpenter said the subcommittee
would make an effort to complete
hearings this week. after which il
would turn its attention to the prep.
aration of report for the full Dis.
trict Committee. which will contain
a series of recommendations designed
to cheat death of its highway victims