Evening star., 1941-10-03
Commissioners
Plan Review Of
Traffic Agencies
Personnel Changes
Depend on Whether
Weakness Is Found

Both the present personnel and
organiza tional setup of the Depart
ment OF Vehicles and Traffic and
other municipal agencies dealing
with traffic will be reviewed by the
Commissioners as a part of their
study of the whole problem, it was
made clear today by Commissioner
John Russell Young.
So far, the city heads have ar
rived at no conclusion as to any
changes in personnel, and whether
any will be ordered would depend on
whether the current study showed
weaknesses which must be corrected,
II was said.
District officials said they could
not predict whether there would be
any housekeeping" either as to
Traffic Director William A Van
Duzer or other officials.
Full Review Promised.
The situation was described by
Commissioner Young thus:
The Commissioners ultimately
are responsible for our traffic con-
troll problem. We are not over
looking that. We now are attack
ing the problems of traffic safety
and traffic congestion just as ear
nestly as we did in recent months
In efforts to strengthen the Police
Department. We promise to review
the situation from top to bottom. If
we find any personnel changes
necessary, I am sure we will make
them"
AS to organizational setup, the
Commissioners now are considering
whether a single District official
should be given supervisory control
over the whole situation, still leav-
Ing final authority with the Board
OF Commissioners. Capt. H. c.
WhitehurSt, highway director, has
been considered for such an assign
ment, but does not want the job,
saying he has enough to do running
the Highway Department Under
the present system, police officials
are in charge OF enforcement, the
traffic director handles traffic engi-
neerlng matters and the Highway
Department deals with street layoutS
and projects. There is a measure
of coordination. but some officials
say 1t lacks punch and force.
Plans Made for Platforms.
While these questions were dis
eussed yesterday, plans were for
mulated for prompt construction of
$50 concrete, streamlined street car
loading platforms on main arteries,
to replace painted zones. which are
deemed insufficient protection for
pedestrians, and about 100 more
raised platforms are planned. Bids
for construction Of the platforms
are expected to be called for Monday
by the Commissioners.
Oficials of the Capital Transit Co.
and the Public Utilities Commission
yesterday agreed with Capt. White
hurst on the location of the first $50
Police Inspector Arthur E. Miller
and Traffic Director Van Duzer also
participated in the inspection and
planning work.
The platforms will be placed along
Pennsylvania avenue NV, west of
Nineteenth street, on M street in
Georgetown to Key Bridge, on Wis
consin avenue between Calvert
street and the District line. and on
Fourteenth street NV. between
Constitution avenue and Decatur
street.
Also, the group agreed there
should be developed a system of
channelizing traffic at the multiple
intersection on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. NV, Twenty ninth and M
streets.
Capt. WhitehurSt reported it has
been agreed by the group to re-
locate bus stops along Sixteenth
street NV. under which they would
be placed generally on the far side
OF intersections where they are con-
trolled by traffic lights or where
there is heavy amount of right
turns.