Evening star., 1938-05-29
TRAFF|CPR0BLEM
REMEDYPROPOSED
Subway and Coach. Loop
Seen Reducing Number of
Commuters Cars.

A plan to eliminate traffic conges.
ton has been devised by DR.. Waldo
L. Schmitt of the Takoma Park Git
liens Association, who will shortly
present his ideas to the District con-
gressional committees, in the hope that
it will provide solution to this prob
lem.
In referring to the subject DR..
Schmitt says that the local traffic sit
uation has already reached almost un-
manageable proportions. The local
transit company continues to reduce.
rail mileage and is buying still more
buses. which will only further con-
gest and impede existing traffic.
Present Plans Held Futile.
DR.. Schmitt contends the way to
remedy the difficulty is not by building
underpaSses for autos at circles or an
elevated superspeed highway as has
been suggested for K street. Neither
will reduce the number of autos usig0.
the streets, but might encourage more
to use them, he says, adding that only
by bringing about marked reduction
in the number Of autos that are daily
driven into town by what one might
call the "commuter" class of owners
can the traffic problem be solved.
Through the eastern part of the Dis.
trict, says DR.. Schmitt, along nearly
all Of southern boundary and just OUT
side its western environs is an almost
continuous loop of railway tracks,
starting from a point between Wood.
side and North Chevy Chase and max
ing complete circuit Of the city ex-
cept for a very short stretch between
Twelfth street and Maryland avenue
SW. and Rock Greek and Virginia
avenue NV, matter of less tharff
2l2 miles in all. Bridge this gap with
subway and over the resulting con-
tinuous loop Of tracks run high-speed
electric coaches of large and comfort
able seating capacity. or even more or
less streamlined trains similarly
driven. On these rail lines there are
very few grade crossing that cannot
be readily eliminated, thus doing away
with traffic stops except at regular
stations and making for uninterrupted
and rapid transportation.
One-Way Problem.
There might be slight objection to
the western part of the existing loop
of railway tracks being only a single
track, but in the morning rush houiA
over this part of the line, the traffic
could be one-way to town and in the
evening one-Way in the reverse direc-
ton. During the day shuttle serv-
ice with one car or train of cars
could be speedily run from one end to
the other in 20 or 30 minutes or less.
The empties for the single-track sec
ton in rush hours could be run around
the double track side of the loop 70.
their starting point. If the whole o.
the proposed connecting subway
should appear too expensive, the prob
lem could nevertheless be solved by
constructing only that part Of the
subway extending from Twelfth street
and Maryland avenue S.W. north to
Twelfth street and Constitution ave-
nue., a distance of one-half mile, with
q turnabout or loop for return of
trains at the Constitution avenue end.
This point is very close to the middle
of the Government triangle, where ths
bulk Of the Office workers Of the cit ,
are employed.
DR.. Schmitt Is Curator.
This subway solution OF the Wash
ington traffic problem" says DR..
Schmitt, sis Of great importance to
the Federal Government. Would not
this subway be one of the most i'm
portant constructive things the United
States or Congress could do for Wash
ington, which is, after all, Federal ter
ritory, and, above all, the Nations
Capital?" DR.. Schmitt is curator of
the National Museum and has given
considerable time and study to ttN
traffic situation in Washington. DR.
Guy Clinton, president of the Takoma
Park Citizens Association, has ap-
pointed him chairman of the Police
and Fire Committee of the association.