Evening star., 1941-06-20
DeIano Submits Plan
To Solve Traffic,
Parking Problems
Rapid transportation
For Commuters and Fringe
Auto Lots Suggested
BY NELSON NJ. SHEPARD.

the National Resources Planning
Board, said today he has prepared
for submission to the District Com
nissioners a memorandum propos'
ing solutions for Washington's criti
cal parking and transportation prob
lens.
These problems have created {
situation in Washington, he said
that is handicapping the efficien
functioning of preparedness efforts
Fringe parking lots as suggested
in the Whitehurst report and rapio
transportation for Maryland anc
Virginia commuters are among some
of the remedies proposed by Mr.. De
lano. He has embodied his ideas
under the title, The Parking Prob
lem in Washington and How to Meet
It."
Claiming the parking problem
especially. has Jumped to the fore
front of war preparedness" he said
the many-sided complications exist
ing here not only require serious
attention" from officials but also
"call for unselfish efforts to find a
solution
Ideas Sent to Other Officials.
In addition to the Commissioners,
he said he was sending the memo
randum to other interested Off
Gals in view of the controversy that
has arisen between the Navy and In
terror Departments over downtown
parking problems.
AS chairman of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion for many years, Mr.. Delano has
had unusual opportunities to study
and deal with many of the problems
touched upon in his memorandum.
The ideas embodied in it, he said,
are his own suggestions for remedy
ing the situation and are based on
years of close study.
Mr.. Delano's plan does not con-
template general use of the park
system for automobile parking, as
proposed by the Navy Department
and urgently desired by other gov
ernmental agencies.
Because of the present emergency,
however, he said he did not see any
SERIOUS objections to using the
polo grounds in West Potomac Park
for a temporary automobile parking
lot.
Objects to Using Monument Area.
mo one has fought any harder
than I to preserve the beauty of
Wasfingtons park system, to de-
velop them properly and to protect
them from improper uses" Mr.. De-
lano said.
But these are very critical times
and everything must be done to ex-
pedite the defense program. The
polo grounds are bare of trees and
located where a parking lot for prob
ably 1900 cars would prove less OBJ
iectionable than other sites"
Should the polo grounds be used,
he declared, care should be taken to
avoid running the turf. He explain
ed that if 1t had to be used at all.
the ground should be carefully
planked over so as to protect the
sod. You can imagine what
hundreds of cars would do to it
otherwise" he added.
Proposals to use the Monument
grounds on Constitution avenue for
all-day parking of 1000 cars and the
suggested use. also, of the newly
Handicapped site on the same avenue
between Fourteenth and Twelfth
Streets we're rejected by him as
wholly Objectionable. The Govern
ment has spent too much money on
these sites to build up and improve
the areas" he said.
He indicated that the site near
the Smithsonian Institution involves
further planning in connection with
new roadways from The Mall.
Old Airport's Use Suggested.
Mr.. Delano discussed some of the
high lights of his memorandum in
general way.
Acquisition by the Government of
the site of the old Washington
Hoover Airport as a general parking
space for commuters cars was pros
posed as one solution for lessening
the traffic on the two vehicular
bridges over the Potomac River.
Mr.. Delano said the site was
Ideal for such purposes and would
provide accommodations for at least
one-half of the Virginia automo-
biles which otherwise park on Wash
ington's streets and in the road
ways of West Potomac Park.
THE traffic load on the two
bridges is getting worse all the
time" Mr.. Delano said. During
the rush hours it creates particu-
larly bad problem 1t accounts for
the unavoidable delays, he said. in
going to and from the downtown
area. Navy Department officials also
blame the delay as contributing to
the mounting record of morning
hardness OF clerks.
Other High Lights of Report.
Other high lights of Mr.. Delano's
memorandum include the following
proposed remedies:
Establishment Of automobile park
ing lots on the fringe of the con-
gested downtown areas. He men
toned number of sites in the West
End section and in the triangles on
Maryland and Independence ave-
nues between Fourth and Sixth
streets. The triangles, he said, offer
about IA acres of space.
Banning of all free street park
Ing of automobiles between Florida
avenue and the Potomac River.
Where street parking is permitted,
fees should be fixed by law at a
rate, perhaps. of 25 cents per day
or for eight hours.
Where parking is permitted on
streets, all cars should be parked
at an angle of As degrees and on
only one side of the street.
The same principle of parking
fees, he believed. should be estab-
lished on the spaces provided by
public buildings.
Favors Worlds Fair Type Bus.
Mr.. Delano believed and will sug-
eest to the Commissioners that
"svery effort be made to improve
S -X,~.nl;fy, tho Syctero af mas