Evening star., 1941-12-03
Planners Ask
ToPassUpon
Parking Sites
Commission Seeks
To Amend Bill
For fringe Lots

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today sought
authority to approve the location
of proposed municipality owned
parking lots which the Commis-
sioners hope to establish on the
fringe of the central business Sec
ton.
Frederic A. Delano. chairman OF
the commission, in letter to Chair
man Randolph Of the House Dis
trict Committee, suggested that a
bill authorizing establishment Of
the parking lots be amended to re-
quire that before any property is
acquired for off street parking the
sites have its approval. The Com
missioners, he said, have agreed TO
the amendment in principle.
Mr.. Delano's letter said in part,
The location of parking lots, their
size and relation to other elements
of the city plan, being obviously
matters Of concern 10 the Planning
Commission, the bill should provide
that the commission have an oppor-
tunity to report and submit recon-
mendation before commitments are
made for the acquisition and estab-
lishment of any off-street parking
area. This is a protective provision
that should prevent mistakes or
other maladjuStmentS IN the general
plan of the city
Rushes Consideration.
Representative Randolph received
the letter after making arrange
ments to have the f-Street parking
bill considered at special meeting
of the District Committee Friday at
10 am.
Chairman Randolph said the park
ing lot legislation, requested by
the Commissioners several months
ago. would be given No. position on
the committee calendar in view OF
the acute traffic situation.
Hopes for Quick Action.
"I hope the committee will take
immediate action on the bill and re-
port it favorably," he declared. The
Commissioners need the authority
it provides to go ahead with thelr
plans to solve the traffic problems
Feebly Endorsed.
The measure will come before the
committee with the feeble indorse-
ment Of its traffic subcommittee
headed by Representative Schultz,
Democrat, Of Indiana.
The subcommittee, IN It's report,
said it recognized the need OF on
street parking accommodations. and
suggested garages under the Mall.
/ The Commissioners have planned a
series Of parking lots IN the area
surrounding the central business
section. The underground garage
idea was considered sometime ago
bv traffic engineers and discarded as
both Impractical and too costly.
The bill, it was pointed out, merely
! authorizes the Commissioners TO es-
] tablish off-street parking facilities
and leaves the type and location TO
a parking agency to be appointed by
+ them.
Other recommendations in the re-
/ port called for surveys for subways
/ for both rail and vehicular traffic,
( traffic tunnel under the Potomac
/ River, an eventual ban on parking
/ all night and a prohibition against
parking during the day on major
/ thoroughfares in the congested busl-
/ ness area.
New Report in Prospect.
/ One thousand copies of the report
have been printed. Representative
/ Schultz plans to have some Of them
distributed to civic. trade and other
organizations interested in the trat-
fic problems.
Another report on the traffic sit
uation, prepared by Chairman Bur
ton of a special Senate subcommlt-
tee. is expected TO be made public
bv the end of the week 1t will con-
tain recommendations with respect
to the parking lot bill as we'll as
House approved measure providing
for an increase from ? to 4 cents a
gallon in the local gasoline tax. The
additional revenue would be used to
help finance the S44,000000 White
hurst highway improvement pro-
gram.
The Senate subcommittee study
of the traffic problems was made in
connection with hearings on the two
bills. Strong Endorsement was given
the So-called fringe parking lot
plan during these hearings, AL
though considerable opposition de-
veloped to a boost in the gasoline
tax.