Evening star., 1938-06-05

they have had. I doubt whether the
Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
would have been built in the manner
in which it was, had those in charge
not seen and profited by the work of
the Westchester County Park Com
mission. And so Washington has one
example of the type of motorway
that should obtain, extending out from
every portal Of the city.
Parkways Here Envisaged.
am certain that ultimately Wash
ington will be approached by parkway
from every direction; but that time is
still far distant unless the people of
the country make known the need for
adequate and appropriate approaches
to the National Capital to take the
place Of the ugly and sordid trafnc
arteries entering the city from Mary
land and Virginia. There Is hardly q
more indecent approach to a great
capital in all the world than the ap-
proach to Washington from Baltimore
over United States Route /. Nothing
can be done to improve 1t. The only
remedy is the construction Of a park
way on an entirely new and wide
right-of-way, utilizing, in 80 far as
possible, the public properties in the
region, such as military reservations,
the agricultural farm and lands of the
State Of Maryland.
Plan Long Studied.
A parkway between Washington and
Baltimore has been the subject OF
study for some years past by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission, the Maryland Park and
Planning Commission and the Mary
land Planning Board Before con-
struction work may be started re-
newed impetus is necessary in order
to insure the acquisition Of necessary
additional lands and the preparation
Of detailed plans.
Let us examine the elements which
obtain in the design Of the parkway.
We must keep the human element in
mind. It is major factor to consider.
Rules and laws are poor remedies for
bad conditions and the modern motor
way should be designed to reduce
human errors to q minimum.
Streamline Effects.
l. Provide streamlined continuity in
alignment. Gong, easy curves with
transition curves or spirals to connect
them with tangents) No "flat wheels"
lin other words, no tangents between
curves in the same direction.
2. Elimination Of grade crossings,
railway or highway, at important in
tersecting thoroughfares, with access
provisions.
8. Protected right of way control
each side Of the driveway (buffer) 200
feet average width, with q minimum
of not less than $50 feet, eliminates
slum conditions and hazards along
the roadsides.
4. Wherever possible, flow Of tratlc
should be so planned that at no place
would it cross itself on entering or leav-
ing. Traffic should enter and leave on
the right hand (slow side), passing
always (where practicable) above or
beneath when coming from, or going
to, the left.
One-Way Lanes Preferred.
5. Where feasible and economically
Justified by the volume Of traffic, motor
vehicles should not be permitted to
travel in opposite directions on the
same surface. For reasons Of safety
parkways preferably should have di-
vided roadways Tor one-way trafic.
8. Parkways should be designed 30
as to incorporate beauty as well as
efficiency. Consideration should be
given to the appearance Of all surface
features. All structures should be de-
signed in good proportions and with
pleasing outlines. The incidental fea-
lures Of the roadside should be de-
signed and located along the highway
with respect to adjacent features 80 as
to harmonic the construction with
the surroundings.
Z. The collaboration Of landscape
architect and engineer should be
fundamental from the start OF the
planning to coordinate the design and
construction Of the various units Of the
work to flt present needs and future
possible demands In an attractive
manner. The width and form Of the
right Of way reservation Is governed
by the local conditions and tlae topog.
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