Evening star., 1938-01-26
CIRCLE UNDERPASS
CRITICIZED BY EMO
Rerouting of Dupont Street
Cars and Wider Road
way Urged Instead.

Proposed construction Of an UNDER
pass to relieve congestion at Dupont
Circle was condemned as an unneces-
sary expense by William P. Emo. inter.
nationally known traffic expert, In. a,
address before the Womens Safety
Committee of the District Motor Club
OF the A. A. A. at the Sulgrave Club
today.
Mr.. Emo spoke after Capt. n. G.
Whitehurst. District highway director.
had explained to the committee the
plan for the underpass construction
at an estimated cost Of $3.50 900. He
said this plan was adopted after con-
siderable study Of numerous proposed
methods to eliminate dangerous con-
gestion caused by traffic from 10
streets, including two main thorough.
tares entering the circle.
In reply to questions during a forum
discussion, Mr.. Emo said the proposed
underpass will cost a lot of money
and take lot Of time. If nothing else
would do that would be o. K. but I
nave plan that is better" He sur-
gested change Of the street car line 50
that trolleys could go in both di-
rectlons and widening of the roadway
by taking away the inside sidewalk tn
clear the way for real rotary trafic
system here"
MY plan is cheap. won't upset the
section and if it doesn't work, I'll not,
only eat my hat, but help put over the
other program" Mr.. Emo added.
Officials Disagree.
Capt. Whitehurst said District ofn.
Gals had studied Mr.. Eno's plan. but
mad decided it would not solve the
problem. He said it would result in a
situation much like that at Thomas
Circle. which he described as almost
as crowded as Dupont Circle. although
it has only 8 instead Of 10 entering
streets.
Mr.. Emo, who lives at It'll N street
NV, was introduced to the commit
tee by Mrs. Cora Wells Thorpe, chair.
man. as our traffic ambassador at
large because Of his work for several
years as adviser on traffic problems IN
Paris, London, Berlin, New York and
other cities over the world. He was
Saio to have begun his traffic work
pack in the horse and buggy era"
when his proposal for a code of traffic
regulations was adopted in New York
in 1908.
Frankly critical Of many aspects of
American traffic regulations. Mr.. Emo
said: i don't know Of any country in
Europe where traffic is not better han
died. He said he had particularly
bitter feeling against the modern svn-.
chronized automatic traffic lights. Il
don't think thep are doing as much
good as HARM" he added. They
block up instead of smooth out the
flow of traffic and induce excessive
speeds. don't believe anybody can
regulate trafic where he can't see it."
Hits Ban on Left hand Turns
He also expressed contempt for the
growing practice of banning left-hand
turns on principal thoroughfares.
This is a confounded nuisance and
doesn't do any good except in perhaps
few very rare Places" he said.
In regard to the parking problem he
suggested that more restrictions on
indiscriminate parking on the streets
would stimulate the building of mod
ern parking garages.
Parking has become q nuisance
here he said. 1T is not so serious in
foreign countries because officials have
controlled the problem as it increased"
Guests at the committee meeting,
in addition to Capt Whitehurst. in.
cluded District Traffic Director Will
liam A. Van Duzer and Commissioner
Dan l. Sultan.