Evening star., 1941-10-20
Planning Traffic Relief

IaitiiiiiS tih''i$ iN~~
It is encouraging to note an in
ereasing tendency in official quarters
to emphasize long-range planning in
connection with efforts to solve
Washingtons traffic problems Piece
meal, Stop-gap measures are neces-
sary, of course, to bring immediate
and temporary relief during the
emergency, but they are palIatlveS,
at best-nOt cures for troubles that
are as deep-rooted as the traffic ills
of a fast-grOWing city like the Ma
tons Capital. When WaShington'S
streets were laid out, there were no
traffic problems, no parking dltfl-
culties. There was ample room on
the city's broad thoroughfares for
moving vehicles as well as for the
horses and buggieS parked at the
curb. Today those thoroughfares
are inadequate.
Proposals designed to afford vary
ing degrees of Immediate relief in
ClllIb llltNt 4ul 1COlL lNI41iE7 VI NAAiALA
mating parking in the more con-
geSted areas, for refining traffic
signals for increasing the number of
traffic policemen and for minor en-
gineering improvements to the high
way system. The Commissioners
have acted wisely in moving to ban
IF tho 10rII0Pln91
traffic arteries leading into the
downtown section. Lines of automo-
biles parked at the curb are utilizing
valuable lanes that should be re-
served for moving traffic. There is
no quicker and simpler way of widen
ing a street than by removing parked
cars from its curbs. The ultimately
desirable goal of a street system
used only for the free movement Of
vehicles cannot be attained, however,
until adequate off-street terminal
facilities are available for passenger
cars.
The Whitehurst proposal for mu-
1llClpdIly OpC1 ClGCu pa h4Al SO44lNA . VII
the fringe of the downtown district
Is directed toward solution of the
parking problem especially as it re-
lates to the Federal departments. AS
a matter of fact, the Federal Gov
ernment must share the blame for
the near = intOlerable congestion
around its office buildings, for had
1t made proper plans to care for the
parking of employees cars when pub
lie buildings were being erected in re-
cent years, there would be no need to
park automobiles today on parkWays
near the Lincoln Memorial and on
other park property. Having learned
It's lesson, the Government is provid-
ing large parking areas adjacent to
the new War Department Building in
Arlington The suggestion of Rep
resentative Schultz that in the fu-
ture all office and apartment build
ings be required to provide Off-Street
parking facilities for the occupants
10 d lung dllSC pAOpOodI tLloO ID
theoretically sound, although it may
involve economic difficulties that
would make it inadviSable to apply
such a rule generally.
Congress will find in the White
hurst report numerous long-vleW
recommendation for traffic relief
that hold great promise, although
they entail large capital expendi-
lures. Radial highways, grade sepa-
rations, elevated roadWayS, street
parking facilities and other major
improvements are costly, but they
represent an intelligent and prudent
investment that will bring ines
timable dividends in terms Of safety,
convenience and general civic bet
terment, in all of which the Federal
Government has an important stake.