Evening star., 1941-01-12
Dirksen Asks
Quick Action
On Traffic-|||s
D. E.. Needs Remedy,
Not More Surveys,
He Asserts

ne ASSETS
Demands for immediate action
toward solution of Washingtons
acute" traffic problems we're made
last night by Representative Dirk.
sen, Republican, of Illinois.
AS the ranking minority member
Of the House District Committee, Mr..
Dirksen said he would propose Gre
alton of a special subcommittee to
develop a "well-delineated program
for removing traffic "bottlenecks'
and expediting the movement OF
traffic.
1--WE have had enough traffic sur
veys to show us what causes trafflc
congestion" he declared. Now IS
the time to seek a remedy"
Mr.. Dirksen said the special sub
committee should be appointed with
out delay so a definite plan Of action
could be placed before Congress at
its present session. Recognized traf-
fic experts from the Federal Bureau
of Public Roads and Harvard and
Northwestern Universities should be
called on for advice, he explained,
as well as Representatives Of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission, the Fine Arts Com
mission, Traffic Director William A.
Van Duzer and Capt. H. c. White
hurst, director of highways.
Favors Elevated Highways.
Permanent solution of the traffic
situation, according 10 Mr.. Dirksen.
cannot be brought about by widen
ing certain arterial highways and
the construction of a few under
passes such as the one at Thomas
Circle and the one soon to be
placed under Scott Circle. Subways.
be explained, probably would provide
the solution, but would be too costly
now. Elevated highways, he believes,
would cost less to construct and
serve the same purpose as subways.
I'm not traffic expert and don't
know what should be done to i'm
prove the traffic situation here" he
declared But I do know that
something should be done and done
without further delay. Whatever
is done is going to cost a lot OF
money, but every year of procras-
tination will increase the cost"
Mr.. DirkSen said financing should
be worked out by the congressional
committee which tackles the prob
lem. He emphasized, however. that
the Federal Government should bear
a proportionate share OF the cost,
since the great influx of Govern
ment workers in recent years is
partly responsible for the conditions
One of the major phases of the
traffic problem, Mr.. Dirksen said. is
the lack of adequate off street park
ing facilities. He recalled that sew
eral years ago he sponsored a bill
giving the Commissioners authority
to condemn property for the erec-
ton of municipality owned and op-
Grated parking lots.
Need Called Greater Than Ever.
This bill died from inaction," he
declared, but the need for munich
pally owned parking lots is more
pressing than ever. Privately owned
parking lots are inadequate and the
rates they charge too high"
One of the first proposals fol
an elevated traffic highway in
WaShington-one similar to the
Pulaski skyway in New York-wa.
made several years ago by Repre-.
sentative Collins, Democrat, Of
Mississippi, when he was chairman
of the House Appropriations Sub.
committee in charge of the District
appropriation bill. At that time
he suggested an elevated, high.
speed boulevard closely parallelins
the Potomac River from Fourteenth
street and Maine avenue S.W. anc
the Anacostia River to the Mary.
land line, where it would connect
with U. S. highway No. l to tn.
north. 1t was his idea that such
"skyway" could be used as a by.
pass for north and southbound traf.
fic, keeping the latter out of the
congested sections of the city.
Since then, however, proposal,
have been made for construction OF
additional vehicular passes acros:
the Potomac-either bridges OF
tunnels-that could be used to by.
pass through traffic, and the 194i
District budget now before Con.
gress provides s25O.OOO to begin con.
struction of an overpass at -Four.
teenth street and Maine avenue tt
remove the traffic bottleneck" in
the vicinity of the entrance h
East Potomac Park and Highway
Bridge.