Evening star., 1938-06-12
BY DON S. WARREN.

AL OISSAAiIiGlLIn1lg plOAI Gill
of traffic engineering projects is being
planned by trio of leading District
officials as result of personal inspec-
tion of what has been done to alleviate
the New York maze-at the cost of
many millions.
While the new plans are as yet in
tentative state, they envision a new
bridge across the Potomac, from Alex
andria to Shepherds Landing, con-
Meeting with a bypass around the
eastern side of the District; numerous
grade-crossing projects in the city; a
Georgetown traffic bypass; street
widening; traffic tunnels and two-way
traffic arteries with island strips in
the center to divide traffic movements.
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen,
convinced Washington has been a
"p!ker" in traffic control expenditures,
has suggested $4,000, 900 bond issue
to cover the cost of new expedients.
Yesterday he admitted this was a
trial balloon" but while he admitted
he could be argued out of the bond is
sue idea, he clung to the need of much
greater outlays.
Fayors Gas Tax Rise.
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer, to the contrary, came up yes
terday with suggestion of a 1-cent
| increase in the District gasoline tax
as means of providing sinking
fund for the retirement of any bond
issue plan that might be approved by
the next Congress.
incidentally, District officials will be-
gin tomorrow to paint vertical strips
on curb lines, at points 20 feet back
of the building lines, to pave the way
for court prosecution of vehicle owners
who continue to violate the newly in
voked bans on parking near inter-
sections. There were indications the
District probably would not prosecute
those already given tickets for such
offenses. since no exact means had
been afforded for measurement of the
| 20-foot distance back of official build
ing lines. A number of such cases
have been filed, but not brought up in
court
Also. incidentally, Traffic Director
Van Duzer revealed he plans to sub
nit new recommendations to the
Commissioners in the next two weeks
for an increase in the established
speed limits
Compromise on Speed.
Apparently, a number of officials
have agreed to- compromise the origi-
nal speed recommendations submitted
by Mr. Van Duzer and Police Supt.
E. w. Brown, as a result of fears they
could expect no better enforcement
or compliance with the new rules
than the old
Commissioner Hazen indicated the
Commissioners soon may give con-
sideraIion to proposals to advance the
speed limits to 25, 80 and 35 miles per
hour. The theory is that the Dis
trict is out of step with other juris-
dictions in clinging to a 22-mile-per-
hour limit in congested sections. The
point is made that most automobiles
have speedometers which are not
calibrated so that the driver might
tell easily when he exceeds % miles,
as against 25 miles per hour.
Many of the new traffic engineering
plans under discussion are to be
found in the five-year tentative pro-
gram of Improvements advanced last
year by Capt. H. c. Whitehurst.
director of highways. However, there
are some new ideas.
Hazen Backs New Span.
Commissioner Hazen has come out
as the champion of construction of
a new bridge over the Potomac, from
Shepherds Landing toward Alex
andria. This would be the key to a
bypass for Washington for through
traffic. He believes Washington would
benefit by reducing downtown con-
gestion caused by truck and private
passenger cars which now traverse
the District. He voiced hopes the
United States and the State of Vir-
ginia would be willing to contribute
to the cost.
Tied in with this plan is one for
construction of bypass roadways run
ming from Shepherds Landing up
either Anacostia parkway or Alabama
avenue Sc. and northeast to the Dis
trict line and connecting there with
roads to Baltimore
A project deemed by some engineer
ing officials of much more immediate
necessity is one for providing grade
separation structure at Fourteenth and
Water streets SW With traffic to
and from Virginia steadily increasing,
this point is becoming one of great
congestion. The plan would be to
build viaduct to carry Fourteenth
street traffic over Water street. This
would cause no engineering problem
in connection with the railroad via
duct nearby.
Commissioner Hazen has advanced
the idea of constructing a second
(See TRAFFIC, Page A-3.)