Evening star., 1939-05-14
BY G. Adams Howard.

Spring and summer is the time
for touring and for this pastime
good roads and more roads are
necessary. Particularly this is true
to eliminate some of the congestion
now to be found everywhere with
the users Of automobiles ever noun
ting.
A special report recently made on
the subject of road building with
proposals greatly affecting Wash
lngton and its vicinity is of special
interest. Another interesting fea-
ture OF the report is the discourage
ment of all toll proposals. The
majority of motorists have been led
to believe that the toll question was
matter OF the past, but unfortu-
nately its ugly head keeps appear
ing from time to time.
The country greatly needs better
arteries. Besides conveniences it
is OF safety values. But the coun-
Try does not want tolls. Well, let
us delve into the report more thor
oughly. 1t is of distinct value.
A system of transcontinenta]
superhlghways cannot be supported
by tolls and will not solve anv con-
siderable part of the problem of pro-
Vldlng adequate highway facilities
according to special report to Con-
gress by the CHIEF of the Bureau of
Public Roads of the Department of
Agriculture. The report was trans
mltted to Congress by President
Roosevelt.
Inc report is made in accordance
with the act of June 8, 1888, instruct
ing the chief of the Bureau of Public
Roads to investigate and report his
findings with respect to the feasi-
blllty OF building, and cost of, super
highways, not exceeding three in
number, running In a general direc-
ton from the Eastern to the West
ern portion Of the United States. and
not exceeding three in number, run
ming IN a general direction from the
Northern to the Southern portion of
the United States, including the feas-
lblllty of toll system on such roads.
The report states that the build
ing OF such system is entirely feas-
lole from a physical standpoint. but
the system would not come within so
per cent of being self-supporting if
operated as a toll facility. The
report adds, however, that a system
OF toll roads such as the bureau was
required to report on does not meet
the most urgent highway needs and
presents a master plan designed to
meet these needs.
In this plan five classes of i'm
provement are listed. A bold attack
on the congestion and delays on
main arteries by constructing ex-
press highways through cities, belt
line distribution routes around them
and bypasses around small towns
Is proposed. 1t is also proposed to
create a national system of inter-
regional highways. approximately
27000 miles in extent, by moderniz-
ing and improving existing routes
ot>travel and building new roads
where necessary to provide more
direct travel.
In studying the feasibility of a
toll system, the bureau selected six
routes. located in accordance with
the terms of the act, aggregating
1886 miles. It's detailed studies
show that the cost of constructing
this system for fast moving traffic
without crossing other highways or
railroads at grade would be about
$500 300 900, which is at the average
rate of s2o2,27o per mile.
The average estimated annual ex-
penditure for the period 945-196O,
required for financing the construc-
ton, maintaining the property and
operating the facility would be
Sl84 4,054 900, which is at the average
rate of sl284O per mile per year.
Estimates Of the potential traffic
on the proposed toll system were
based on actual traffic counts on
the main highways of the country
and studies of the character of
highway travel. A number of facts
led to the conclusion that only a
small portion of present traffic could
be attracted to the toll system
Long distance travel constitutes
only small fraction of the total
travel. Counts made on East West
highways at stations established on
line extending from Canada to
Mexico showed only 300 passenger
vehicles crossing the line daily in