Evening star., 1939-09-24

(heCkS VIII be maze
At Il Stations
Outside of District
A new phase of the comprehensive
traffic survey of the District, be-
Ing made by the Highway Depart
ment in cooperation with the Pub
lie Roads Administration, was to be
started today to determine the need
and possible location for express
routes or by-passes.
Spot checks were to be made of
private cars and trucks passing II
interview stations which have been
located on major thoroughfares as
far as Is miles from the District.
Specifically, the District and the
Public Roads Administration of the
Federal Works Agency seek to de-
termine whether an express high
way through the city or a bypass
around it is necessary to relieve
congestion caused by use of the city
streets for both local and through
traffic, and If necessary just how
and where through route should
be built.
Congress Provided Authorization.
Authorization for the survey was
provided by Congress at the last ses-
sion as a step toward improving
through traffic facilities on United
States highway No. and on other
main routes. Maryland and Vir-
ginia authorities are cooperating
In this phase of the survey.
The survey is under direction of
Capt. H. G. Whitehurst, director of
highways for the District, with F. w.
Lovejoy representing the Public
Roads Administration. Cooperating
in the study are w. F. Childs, jr.,
manager of the Maryland Highway
Planning Survey, and Burton Marye,
jr., manager of the Virginia High
way Planning Survey.
Operation of the following inter-
view stations was scheduled to be-
gin. today:
Station No. 1-1.0 mile north Of
intersection of route % in Rock
vile on U. S. route 24O.
Station No. 2-09 mile north of
-Four Corners at Burnt Mills filtra-
ton plant on U. S. route 20.
Station No. 3-2.3 miles north of
stop light at Beltsville, just south
of underpass at Muirkirk on U. S.
route /.
Station No. +1.6 miles east of
Bladensburg Peace Cross on U. S.
route so.
Station No. 5-12 miles east of
intersection of Ritchie road on
Maryland route 214.
Station No. 6-Opposite State
Road Commission garage just west
Of Upper Marlboro on Maryland
route 4. Alternate station in front
Of cemetery just west of Upper Marl-
boro on Maryland route 4.
Station No. 7-01 mile north Of
intersection in Camp Springs in
front of Truman's house on Mary
land route S.
Station No. 8-0.9 mile south Of
Oxon Hill on route 224.
Station No. 9-06 mile south of
intersection of route 235 at Fort
Belvoir, on U. S. route l, 68 miles
south of intersection of route 241.
Station No. 10-16 miles south of
intersection of route 236 and so on
% and 211.
Station No. 11-0.1 mile west of
intersection of routes % and 211-
on route 50.
Station No. 12-11 miles west Of
intersection at Tysons Corner on
Virginia route 7.
One Minute Interviews.
At each station from one to three
lnterviewers, depending on the
volume of traffic, are to be posted
to interview motorists travelling from
Washington, to obtain specific in
formation on their trips through
the metropolitan area. The inter-
views, it was said, would not re-
quire more than one minute.
Those questioned are to be asked
their point of origin, their destina-
ton, where they entered the area
and what stops were made. They
will also be asked the reason for
the stops-whether for business,
trade, loading or unloading, in the
case of trucks, for a visit or sight
seeing or for such incidental reasons
rs an overnight stop or a stop for
for meals or purchase of gasoline
Those who stopped only for in
cidental reasons and those who did
not stop will be asked if they would
have passed around the District if
. suitable route had been available.
A State policeman or county po-
lice officer will be on duty at each
station. Interviewers are ordered
to be courteous to drivers, regard
less of the drivers attitude on being
stopped. Should a driver decline
to answer questions, the interviewer
Is under instructions to thank him
politely and let him go on, it was
announced.
The interviewers were to be fur
nished with printed handbills to
explain their undertaking. In ad-
dition to the policemen and inter-
viewers, the stations will be manned
with other workers to count and
classify the traffic by types of
vehicles.