Evening star., 1938-08-04
Letters to The Star
Action on Transportation
Problem Urged.

To the Editor Of The Star:
IN THIS day and age 1t Is just as i'm
portant to be able to get to work as 1t
Is to do the work. To be able to get to
the place where you are working brings
up the problem of transportation. In
the first instance you have to determine
the means which will be employed.
Whether you go by bus. street car, or
automobile you are interested in getting
there within a reasonable time and as
safely and comfortably as possible. If
you happen to be one Of the persons who
use one of the first two methods, you
no doubt know what 1t means to be
packed in like sardine, or to avoid the
crush and rush you have arranged your
schedule to arrive at your place Of work
from half hour to an hour earlier than
you are supposed to. You can't beat
the rap in the afternoon by leaving
early. OF course you can stay late every
afternoon and accomplish the same re-
suit that you do in the morning.
In the event you drive your own car
your problem has just begun when you
get to work-a better expression would
be when you get within a remote dis
tance from such place. You are no doubt
in one of the following categories-one
Of the favored few who has an official
parking place-pay to park in privately
owned parking lot-park on the street
at distance from the place where you
work and walk anywhere from five to
ten bloc',s. Some get to work two hours
early in order to get place on the
street-others park in all types Of re-
stricted spaces-no parking before 9:30.
no parking at anytime zones-beyond
the yellow lines. All kinds Of suggestions
have been made, studied, used If possible
or discarded as impractical or prohibitive
because of the cost. It Is my opinion
however that the ability of the American
people to solve difficult situations Is
unlimited and the present transporta-
ton problem is no exception. An alert.
aroused, and enlightened citizenry can
not only aid but can by active participa-
ton solve the present difficulty.
AS constructive suggestions offer the
following:
Newspaper and radio campaigns carry
ing constructive suggestions or plans
offered by individuals or organizations.
A study of all suggestions and plans
offered. If practical pass them on to
those in authority who can put them
into operation. A complete study of the
entire transportation system by experts,
including in such study survey Of other
large cities.
These two suggestions are merely for
the purpose of getting public opinion
behind the movement to solve common
problem. People have plenty OF ideas.
If they are workable lets have them.
fnp
fact that I have been driving in Wash
ington for seven years and am still alive
to tell about it. Here are some ideas
would hike to suggest. One way fast
streets with enough time to make 10,
IS or 20 blocks without having to stop;
rigid observance and enforcement Of
traffic laws; elimination of bottlenecks
by going over or under circles; widening
streets where necessary and possible;
additional bridges. underpasses, and
overpasses where needed.
For relieving the parking problem:
Require all new buildings to be provided
with ample parking space for employees;
where possible convert available space
in existing buildings into parking areas;
erect parking buildings with public
funds-such funds to be obtained from
P. w. A. or similar setup. Then charge
q reasonable amount to make 1t SELF
supporting. We have modern cars with
streets and control Of traffic so years
behind the times; elevated limited
streets with ramps coming down at the
proper places or lowered cross streets
are not impossible things to be consid-
cred at Q time in the distant future.
Underground parking areas would not
mar the beauty Of the public parks or
the open area between the Capitol and
the Refiecting Pool.
= In q land rich In natural resources We