Evening star., 1941-05-10

the replacement of every painte
improved type of platform, wher-'
ever street width permits and traffic
density warrants.
These death traps should be re-
placed in the immediate future even
at the sacrifice of other work. Capt.
Whitehurst declared.
Misplaced Confidence.
The trouble with the painted
safety zone, the director explained,
is that the motorist cannot see it as
he approaches, while the pedestrian
stands within its boundaries conf
dent that he is protected from in
jury by passing vehicles. Two per-
sons were killed in Washington
while standing in these zones last
year, and another casualty was
added to the list as late as Febru-
airy of this year.
The type of platform suggested in
place of the painted zones already
is in use in certain sections of the
city. They have been found entirely
satisfactory, Capt. Whitehurst said,
do not involve great outlay OF
money, and add to the appearance
of the streets.
AS another move to reduce deaths
from this cause. the highway direc-
tor recommended that the number
Of streetcar loading points or stops
be reduced to the minimum consist
ent with proper service. He said
there are too many stops for both
buses and street cars to permit
expeditions mass transportation
service.
He thinks that pedestrian islands
of an approved type should be con-
structed at intersections on all arte-
rial highways or boulevard ST. It's
with a roadway width of so feet or
more, and that irregular intersec-
tions should be revamped as rapidly
as funds will permit to provide for
channelization of traffic and protec-
ton for the pedestrian.
Control Effected.
work of this character" he re-
ported in connection with the pro-
posed intersection Improvements,
has been undertaken in recent
years at several points and has re-
suited in the elimination of very
hazardous conditions. Pedestrian
movement is we'll protected and We
hicular flow is controlled so as to in
sure a safe movement into the here
tofore largely uncontrolled areas.
Capt. Whitehurst termed WIDEN
ing of main highways through COM
munity commercial areas so as to
provide greater roadway widths, an
other of his proposals, "a beneficial
roadway improvement for a little
money" He pointed out that. no mat
ter how strict regulations prohibit
ing parking, there will be curb
stopping. which takes from one to
two lanes temporarily out of use
for through traffic. In case this
occurs on each side of a six-lane
street simultaneously, only two lanes
will be left for the main artery of
travel between.
But an extra lane eliminates this
crowded condition. The director re-
called that one of the worst con-
gested points in the city-Rhode
Island avenue NE, between South
Dakota avenue and Twenty-second
street-was made a smooth flowing
artery by adding another lane on
the north side.
Would Set Back Curbs.
Capt. Whitehurst further proposed
that curbs be set back on intersect-
ing roadways near junction points
controlled by traffic lights to pro-
vide additional lanes. This, he said
would greatly reduce congestion. II
was tried on Connecticut avenue
at the north end of the William
Howard Taft Bridge, and was found
to permit an average of 25 per cent
more traffic to pass through the in
tersection at each light change.
There Is no simpler method oi
increasing roadway capacity" he
said.
The director believes that every
effort should be made to provide
for more expeditions movement o.
cars and buses used in mass trans.
portation so that more commuter,
will travel by this method and re-
duce the number of individual car!
brought into the District. AS othe!
measures, although extremely I'm
portant In his estimation, he recon-