Evening star., 1939-05-30

travel constitutes only small frac-
ton of the total travel Counts
made on East-West highways at
stations established on a line ex-
tending from Canada to Mexico
showed only 300 passenger vehicles
crossing the line daily in transcon-
tinental travel. The system could
be expected to serve adequately only
that portion of the traffic having
origin and destination close to one
of the six routes. Access to the
highways would have to be con-
trolled both for collection of tolls
and to prevent interference with
flow of traffic by entering vehicles.
Vehicles travelling distances less
than the spacing of access points
would not use the toll roads.
Toll Roads Not a Solution.
1t is estimated that the total
travel on the system by all vehicles
would average 12,450,000 miles per
day during the period 1945-6O AS
suming toll charges of l cent per
vehlcle-mile for passenger vehicles
and an average of 35 cents per
vehicle-mile for trucks and buses,
this travel would produce an average
annual revenue of $72000,0OO. This
is considerably less than the $l84,-
100000 estimated average annual
cost and leads the bureau to con-
clude that the system studied could
not be supported by toll collections.
The portion of the proposed sys-
tenn estimated to be most nearly
self-supporting is the 172 miles from
a point near Philadelphia, Pa, to
point near New Haven, Conn. With
the increase in traffic expected by
1860, this portion of the system
would earn slightly more than the
estimated cost for that year.
The report states that, IF, as an
actual test of the feasibility of
limited mileage of toll roads, it is
the desire of the Congress to make
provision for the construction of
a section Of highway of substantial
length upon which there is a reason
able prospect of the recovery of the
costs through tolls, it is recon-
mended that such provision be made
applicable to section of highway,
properly located, and extending
from an appropriate point near
Washington, D. c., to an appropri-
ate point near Boston, Mass"
The data presented in the report
are conclusive that toll system of
the scope investigated will not be
self-supporting and will not be a
solution of our major traffic prob
lens.
Policies and Action Recommended.
However, it must not be thought
that the entire report is negative
in character. Those who have ex-
amlned it in detail find the greatest
interest in the clear presentation
OF facts concerning the nature of
our present traffic difficulties and
the proposals for their solution. Sur
prlslng facts concerning traffic vol
umes on our highways. the places to
and from which people travel,
length OF trip and other information
having important bearing on the
kinds of improvements to be built
are presented.
The first map ever drawn show
ing the volume of traffic on main
highways throughout the country
was prepared in connection with
these studies. Data for this map and
on many other points important
IN fixing a national road policy were
derived from highway planning sur
veys now being conducted by the
Bureau of Public Roads in CO.
operation with As State highway de-
partments, as a result of legislation
which I introduced early in 1896.
After discussing the most i'm
portant highway problems con-
fronting both the Federal and State
governments and their subdivisions,
the bureau recommended the fol-
lowing as joint undertakings of the
Federal and State governments:
l. The construction of a special
system of direct interregional high
ways, with all necessary connections
through and around cities, designed
to meet the requirements of the
Continued on Page B-9, Column l.