Evening star., 1942-02-11

$50 AN. Opening
Advocated for Release
Of Bus Seuts
Commissioner Young disclosed
today that Traffic Director Van
Duzer has recommended that the
opening hour Of District schools
be delayed a half hour until $50
am, to release $1,000 seats IN
street cars and buses for Gov
ernment war workers.
The plan was revealed by Commis-
honer Young in letter to Chairman
Randolph of the House District
Committee. The letter was a reply
to a suggestion that the school
opening hour be fixed at GAS am.
Delay in opening the schools was
Me of seven proposals for alleviating
traffic congestion received by Mr..
Randolph from Bernard L. Eberts,
an attorney with offices in the Evans
Building. Mr.. Randolph asked
Commissioner Young, Mr. Van Duzer
and Chairman Gregory Hankin of
the Public Utilities Commission to
consider the suggestions.
Commissioner Young explained
that a later school hour had been
discussed some time ago with school
oficials and the Board Of Educa-
ton raised several objections, the
main one being it would interfere
with parents taking children to
school.
1900 Children in 755 Cars.
Since that time a survey was
made and it was found that 300
children were taken to school in
755 cars" Commissioner Young said.
"As there are more than 100000
school children, do not think this
small percentage would have any
bearing, as it is my understanding
from the Capital Transit Co. that
1000 children 60 to school each
morning via bus and streetcar.
"A later hour for school opening
would release these 1900 seats for
use Of Government employees. This
would relieve the public transporta-
ton problem a great deal. 1t is the
recommendation of the director Of
vehicles and traffic that the schools
open at $50 instead of 9:45, as
9;45 opening would necessitate .
later closing hour, which might over
lap the peak hour traffic in some
instances"
The other suggestions and Com
missioner Young's comment on them
follow:
!. On wider streets such as Mas
sachusetts avenue NV. to Wisconsin
avenue, use three or four lanes for
one-way trafIic during rush hours.
"On Massachusetts, avenue there
are two lanes in each direction and
on Wisconsin avenue there are two
lanes in each direction most of the
distance. On account of the street.
car line on Wisconsin avenue, 1t
would be impractical to use an addi-
tional lane as suggested. On Massa-
chusetts avenue during the peak
period there arc times when the
trafnc in the opposite direction is
nearly as heavy as the peak-f1ow
direction. The bottleneck at Du-
pont Circle and Massachusetts ave-
nue. and at Wisconsin and MasSa-
chusetts avenues would not permit
any additional traffc on Massa-
b. MOULD
congestion"
Underground Ramps.
:. At certain street intersections
such as Fourteenth street and New
York avenue NV, build under
ground ramps for pedestrians. This
will facilitate the movement of
traffic making right turns as we'll as
provide for the safety Of parties
walking across the street.
The question of building ramps
for pedestrians has been considered
several times, and it is felt that
nothing should be done until such
time as a study has been made of
the possibility of subways."
3. Provide wreck crew patrols on
important arterial three-lane high
ways to remove cars which are stop
ped for any reason and interfere
with the free movement Of traffic.
Under the regulations at the
present time the Police Department
may haul away car which has
been stopped for any reason and
3v,fa r,ifk, fhn
of traffic"
Would End Taxi Cruising
4. Eliminate all taxi cruising by
creation Of taxi stands. This would
eliminate lot of traffic congestion
as well as save rubber and con-
serve gasoline and motor wear.
There are 400 taxicabs in Wash
ington. and there is not sufficient
room in the downtown section to
accommodate even one-half Of these
cars on stands. There are approx
mately 1873 taxicab stands at the
present time"
S. Permit the Capital Transit Co.
to negotiate special morning and
evening service to and from certain
buildings, such as the Veterans Bu-
reau Building, and thus save the
time Of running buses on regularly
scheduled routes with terminals at
both ends of the route.
:, This is a question which should
be handled by the Public Utilities
Commission.
s. Use all downtown parks and
triangles wherever advisable for
either taxicab or bus route sub
terminals.
L This Is q matter of policy, as all
Of the parks come under the juris-
diction OF the United States Park
Eeruica and mt fha District Cam