Evening star., 1941-12-29
Member Of the Associated Press.
Tires and Transportation

As highway, traffic and transpor-
tation officials, to say nothing Of the
general public, begin to grasp some
of the far-reaching implications Of
the wartime tire rationing order,
their minds are sorely disturbed
There can be little doubt that, for
the duration of the rubber shortage
emergency, revolutionary changes
are in prospect in modes of living, in
sundry lines Of business and in
methods of getting from one place
to another. Motoring for pleasure
seemingly will be rendered virtually
obsolete for an indefinite period of
the future-and its passing will affect
many types of enterprise dependent
on the pleasure-going public. AS the
use of passenger cars decreases, both
for pleasure and business purposes,
the burdens placed on already over
loaded mass transportation systems
here and elsewhere will be corre-
spondingly increased
A cursory survey of the local situa-
ton indicates that while the dimin-
ishing use of private passenger cars
may relieve traffic and parking con-
gestion in the downtown section Of
Washington, the drastic tire-ration-
ing program is certain to bring
train of transportation, highway
financing and other troubles for
which no solution can be presently
foreseen. With daily load of more
than 100000 passengers, Washing
tons mass transportation facilities
are taxed to capacity right now.
More than 200 new buses and 81
streetcars are on order, but war
priorities make it impossible to esti-
mate when deliveries will be made.
Upon this system there is to be super
imposed, presumably, many thou
sands or tens of thousands of
additional passengers who ordinarily
use their own cars or hire taxicabs
to take them to and from Offices or
stores
Plans for placing the new War
Department and other Government
buildings in outlying sections of the
city are all based, primarily, on the
concept Of easy access by private
automobile. When the tire rationing
becomes acute, the shortage of pri-
vate automobiles will necessitate a
tremendous increase in public trans
portation which, II not supplied, will
render the new buildings virtually
inaccessible.
Another serious result of tire ra-
tioning will be the inevitable de-
crease in highway fund revenues as
passenger car use declines. The local
highway fund is dependent on gas
taxes, registration fees and other in
come from automobile operation.
This income will dwindle as more
and more cars are laid up. 1t may
become imperative to curtail sharply
highway improvement and construc-
ton work already planned. In fact,
the Districts share of certain urgent
bridge approach work has been ear
marked on the basis OF anticipated
revenues from increased gas taxes.
II revenue shortages make new
road improvements impossible. it
would be most unfortunate, for when
tires again become available-as they
willard when the peacetime de-
n1and for automobiles returns-as it
will-the city should be prepared
for traffic even heavier than that
which will be temporarily curtailed.
1t is to be hoped that the prospect
OF gradual relief Of the parking sit
uation, due to decreased use of
motorcars, will not interfere with
prompt enactment by Congress of
the so-called fringe parking bill. 1t
should be remembered that this bill
not only provides authority for the
establishment Of municipal parking
lots but for creation of a municipal
parking agency empowered to deal
with many aspects of Washington's
traffic problem. The need for such
an agency will be even more acute
in the future than now. If possible,
this is the time to prepare.
r. DI