Evening star., 1941-04-29
Public Hearing
SET on Highway
Program
Muy 20 Designated;
Trade Board Unit
Backs Principle

a nuInDer OF local SAFETY groups, IN
the Board of Trade Traffic
Committee, the proposed S44. 500 600
program Of highway projects for the
District will become the subject of
public hearings next month
The hearings to obtain the pub
lies and taxpayers reaction to the
plan were set by the Commissioners
late yesterday for May 90 They
will begin at pm. that day in the
board room of the District Building.
The huge construction program,
compiled and recommended by a
group headed by Capt. H c. Whlte-
hurst. director of highways was re-
vealed last Friday following an ex-
haustive survey OF local traffic con-
ditions.
Capt. Whitehurst believes the plan
would eliminate congestion and
make streets safer and that through
2-Cent increase in the District
gasoline tax, the work could be COM
pleted in eight years.
Includes Potomac Tunnel.
The projected d Improvements
would include SUCH major develop
ments as a tunnel under the Po-
tomaC River, a bridge across the
Anacostia River. underpasses and
OverpaSSes, elevated and surEon
highways and tunnels under parks.
Capt. Whitehurst at the time he
made his recommendations said he
believed the parking situation would
be improved through the use Of more
meters and development of addl-
tional parking facilities on the
fringe of the central business area.
The date for the public hearings
on the proposed program was set
following a conference between
Engineer Commissioner David Nc
Coach and Capt. Whitehurst. The
highways director had previously
reported he wanted the public to
carefully weigh the merits Of the
plan and that public hearing
would be in order before Congress
was asked to act on the matter.
Several days ago it was disclosed
that a list of priorities would be
prepared if the highway projects
met with the publiCs general appro-
val Capt. Whitehurst said he was
ready TO suggest what group of prof.
ectS he considered most urgent, but
that he believed the priority list
should be held in abeyance until
after the public's reaction.
Commends llaboratOrs.
Shortly before the Commissioners
set the time for the hearings the
Board Of Trade Traffic Committee
gave its approval 'in principle" to
the projected program. The COM
mittee commended Capt White
hurst and F. w. Lovejoy Of the Pub
7 lie Roads Administration which col
laborated with the District Highway
/ Department and the Department of
Vehicles and Traffic in preparing the
/ survey.
/ Asked by Washington 7. Cleve-
land, manager Of the District divi-
/ sion of the American Automobile
! Association. about the amount Of
| annual revenue expected from the
gas tax increase. Capt. Whitehurst
explained that according to present
estimates the 2-Cent tax would yield
about S30O0.000 a year.
In addition. he pointed out. there
is at present Sl,5000O0 available for
major highway Improvements to be
taken from the highway fund. This
makes a total of S4.500000. and
with the expected increase in gaso-
line consumption in the District
within the next few years due to
the city's growth, this figure prob
ably would rise to S5O00,0O0 Capt.
Whitehurst declared.
If the gasoline tax increase were
limited to ! cent. Capt. Whitehurst
said. the expected revenue would be
reduced to an estimated S3.500000,
and the program would be COM
pleted in about y years.
/ Sees Public Approval.
1T all depends" he emphasized,
"on how quickly you want this pro-
gram completed. But l venture TO
Sav that if every man and woman
in this city were convinced that
this plan would make Washington
. streets safe they wouldn't complain
about paving a 2 or even 3 cent
increase in the gas tax
In this connection a report made
earlier in the meeting by Col. E. G..
Bliss chairman of the Statistics
/ and Accident Prevention Subcom-
mittee. showed that gasoline con-
sumption here has jumped 81 per
cent since 1894.
Col Bliss also pointed out that
I'VE have got the city so crowded
/ with human targets and automobiles
that now it's not merely matter
of enforcing present traffic regula-
tionS but a question of a possible
cure for traffic congestion, And the
report by Capt Whitehurst points
the way for this cure"
Would Retain Tracks.
In answer to a question by John
F. Victory concerning the advisable
ity of removing all Streetcar tracks
in the downtown business area the
highway OCpoA tIilClAt OAAASApA ooAN
he doubted the wisdom of such a
move very much"
I'VE are very dependent" he said,
ION mass transportation into the
central area and buses alone can't
take care of the crowds and would
merely increase congestion
He added. however, that in his
opinion there is little excuse for
long hauls" by streetcars in the
outlying sections, such as the Glen
Echo line. He said that he favored
a combination of streetcar and bus
service throughout the city.
Although admitting that eventu-
ally there would be short UNDER
passes for streetcars through points
of congestion. Capt. Whitehurst de-
scribed any proposed system of sub
ways as mo good" explaining that
the hauling distances are too short
and that there would have to be
seven or eight branch lines.
Confederocy Group to Dine
The Kyd Douglas Chapter of the