Evening star., 1937-12-28
NEWPL T0SPEED
TRAFFIC IS ASKED
IN RANDOLPH BILL
Interurban Terminals, With
RadiaI 0ne-Way Lines
to City Urged.
RIGHT OF WAY WOULD
BE GIVEN U. S. WORKERS
Measure Will Be Pushed in Next
Session, D. G. Committee
Member Says.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

"ANA@
Interurban traffic terminals In the
outskirts Of Washington with radial
one-way highways to carry visitors
to the heart Of the city, and curfew
law giving right of way to Government
employees during the rush hours Of
going to and from work are pro-
posed by Representative Jennings
Randolph, Democrat, of West Virginia,
a member of the House District Com
mittee.
He said today he will sponsor such
legislation at the earliest possible
date in the coming session, because he
Is alarmed at the Districts mounting
traffic death total, now considerably
ahead Of last year. He proposes a
carefully planned traffic control sys-
tenn on the principles of flood control.
During the Christmas-New Year
recess of Congress, Mr.. Randolph has
been in conference here with traffic
officials, civil and highway engineers
and other District officials in an effort
to work out some system to handle
more safely the congested traffic under
conditions peculiar to the Capital.
Suggests Traffic Depots.
He suggests that traffic depots
might be established at such cardinal
points as the Washington Hoover Air
port, upper Sixteenth street near the
District line, at Benning, between
College Park and Brookland, perhaps
near the Dalecarlia Reservoir-any-
where in the outskirts near a main
artery Of approach. These would be
especially for busses and other public
oonveyances. which would then run
into the heart of the city on direct,
one-way and possibly nonstop routes,
with all incoming traffic suspended
during the rush hours when Govern
ment employees are going to or from
work-especially from the, suburban
territory in Maryland and Virginia.
These radial highways-one-way at
certain hours-would be fan-shaped so
as to break up the outgoing traffic to
al points of the compass.
Il am convinced that the startling
traf1lc death toll should be eliminated
by . carefully thought-out plan of
control, somewhat after the style of
flood CONTROL" said Mr.. Randolph
Realizing my responsibility to the
citizens as a member of the House
District Committee, I have been seek
Ing advice and counseling with the
District officials and with the best
trafnc control engineers. I am con-
vinced that something important can
be done along this line"
Frowns on skyline" Plan.
He does not approve the aerial, sky
line speedway plan suggested by
Chairman Collins of the subcommittee
in charge of the District appropriation
bill.
"The essence of that plan, Mr.. Ran
dolph pointed out, y to keep tourists
from visiting the Capitalize route
them around and out of the city by by
passes. The people of the country are
eager to visit the Capital and they
should be encouraged to do so-that
builds for patriotism and a keener in
terest in self-government But we
must make their entry and exit safe
and feel sure that the incoming ses-
sion Of Congress will do something
important in that regard"
For example, he explained that
from 1880 am. to 9 am. a fanwise
section Of the city streets leading from
the outskirts to the Mall, where there
Is the greatest congestion of Govern
ment offices, could be made direct one
way highways. Along these, traffic
could be sped and cross streets could
be blocked off,.
my idea. after conferring with
highway and traffic engineers" said
Mr.. Randolph, "is that traffic, like
water over a dam, could be let loose
and permitted to flow at its normal
level to the group of Government
buildings. After $50 am, the ordi-
nary how of traffic could be controlled
by the system Of traffic lights and stops
already installed. Similarly, with the
home-bound Government workers,
from 4 to 6 pm, the outbound tide of
Government employees could be given
right Of way. BY such system people
living in the Maryland and Virginia
suburbs could be speeded on their way
20 as not to impede the routine cross
town flow of business and civilian
traffic.
Il am convinced that such a sys-
tenn could be installed with relatively
small cost, would prove effective in
relieving traffic. Certainly it would
cost very little in comparison with the
proposed overhead highways or special
speed highway, or aerial drives. I
am particularly desirous of emphasize
Ing to my colleagues that we owe a
duty to the people Of the Capital City
to give earnest study and whatever
measure of relief we can against the
mounting tragic traffic death toll"
SAFE SIX FEET SQUARE