Evening star., 1937-01-31

Mr.. WhitehurSt'S plans are the re-
suit of the special Carpenter Sub
committee of the House order for the
Commissioners to prepare traft1c
survey to be submitted at this session
of Congress. These plans, completing
an arduous task, and in full accord
with William A. Van Duzer, director
of traffic, were made public last week
before a meeting of the Advisory
Board of the American Automobile
Association, at which Mr.. Whitehurst
was principal speaker
Traffic, police and representative
citizens, students Of Washington's
problems are hailing the proposals as
the greatest program ever undertaken
here in the interests of traffic safety.
1t is believed that upon fulf1llment
the greatest aid to reducing accidents,
with their resulting fatalities, injuries
and property damage will be accom-
plished.
The 10-point program is sum-
married as follows:
/. A f1ve-year program Of street
widening.
2. A redesign of Thomas and Scott
Circles to meet modern traffic needs
and the elimination of the inside
sidewalks, if found to be practical.
3. A five-year program for bridge
construction and replacement to meet
existing and future traffic needs.
4. Underpasses for street cars under
Dupont and Thomas Circles.
S. Widening the underpass in Rock
Greek Valley underneath Massacnu-
sets avenue viaduct.
6. A five-year program OF trafnc
light improvements and refinements.
7. The construction Of pedestrian
tunnels at Fifteenth street and New
York avenue, at Fourteenth street and
PENNSYLVANIA avenue and at Twelfth
street and Pennsylvania avenue and
at such other points as may be
deemed appropriate.
8. The construction Of suitable
safety islands at such locations as
may be selected.
9. The construction Of overpasses
for Thirteenth street at Florida
avenue northwest and for New York
avenue at Florida avenue northeast.
10. The construction of low-level
highway from K street to Foxhall
road on the bed of the old Chesa-
peake g. Ohio Canal with suitable
ramp connections at Key Bridge in
order to establish a suitable bypass
for Virginia traffic through George
town.
A more complete generalization Is
given by the director.
l. The list for street widening has
been arranged in four groups, rather
than by fiscal year priority. The
items in the groups are not arranged
in order of priority. Under this set-up
it is proposed to complete all OF the
items in group prior to the starting
of items in group 2. The time of COM
pletion of items in group l would, OF
course, depend upon the amount OF
funds annually available. As time
goes on undoubtedly new items will be
added to group either by transfer
from the other groups or new items
not now on any list. Changes are
taking place in both traffic and
physical conditions that require an
annual review of any long range pro-
gram. As an example, if additional
streets through the Mall are closed or
removed from the jurisdiction of the
Commissioners it will be necessary to
widen at the time Of closing the exist
ing thoroughfares and roadways not
now listed for widening.
The loss of trees in most cases ac-
companies roadway widening. In some
cases the trees are poor specimens and
the loss is not serious while in others
the loss involves fine trees and Is a
factor to be considered in the sched-
uling of widening projects. In this
connection a plan has been developed
for the widening of K street northwest,
between Ninth street and Connecticut
avenue, that will obviate the necessity
Of removing the curb line trees and at
the same time provide adequate road
way capacity and relieve the present
unusual traffic congestion on this
thoroughfare. Taking advantage of
the unusual width of K street between
building lines it is proposed to keep
intact the present 50-foot roadway to
be used for moving traffic only and to
construct two 20-foot service roadways
for access to the abutting property.
The service roadways would be sep
arated from the main roadway by To-
foot islands. Eighteen-foot sidewalks
will be available for pedestrian traffic
and access to the buildings. While
this arrangement can be accomplished
on K street due to its unusual width
OF 148 feet, such plan is not possible
IN many cases. It is believed such an
arrangement will be preferable to
widening to one 8-foot roadway and
result in saving the trees and pro-
viding moving roadway of greater
capacity.
2. THOMAS CIRCLE-A surface re-
arrangement of Thomas Circle to ia.
cilitate the movement of traffic is
planned. In the main, it Is proposed
to carry the Fourteenth street cars
through the center Of the circle and to
control by lights the main flows of
traf1c on the principle Of split circle.
1t would be a distinct improvement
over existing conditions from traffic
standpoint. The plan is in three parts
so as to indicate the various phases Of
traffic flow. The estimated cost of
the changes shown on this plan is
$4,000.
SCOTT CIRCLE-A surface rear
rangement of Scott Circle Is proposed.
While the principles involved are SIM
liar to the existing arrangement, the
easing of corners and the streamlin.
ing of islands will enable traffic to
move with greater safety and speed.
The Encouragement would be q distinct
advantage for traffic both from a
safety standpoint and increased ca
pacity Of this multiple intersection.
Each Of the plans are in two parts so
as to show the various phases of traf-
f1c flow. The estimate Of cost of the
changes shown on either plan Is $685.
600.