Evening star., 1944-10-25
Engineers Plan Would Clear
Main Arteries of Streetcors
Traffic Would Be ChonneIized,
Tunnels Built in Conqested Areas

tunnels Built IN Col
This is one OF a series OF
articles describing some OF the
major changes proposed in the
ctty's transportation and truHc
systems to overcome congestion
and aid in the solution OF park
ing problems. The operdH plan
,0as prepared for the Commits
sioners by the consulting engi-
neer firms OF J. Z. Greiner Co..
Baltimore, and De LentD, Gather
d Co, Chicago.
If engineering plans now before
the Commissioners are adopted, driv-
ers along many OF the city's main
thoroughfores and at many con-
gested intersections will no longer
contend with streetcars. The street.
car tracks would be removed and
the cars 'channelized" in new road
ways or tunnels.
And II the combina ton store,
Office and parking buildings are
constructed in the downtown area,
where the engineers feel there is
need for rehabilitation of sub
stantial areas" the driver who
wants to shop for only part Of a
day would find parking spaces near
or at his destination.
One of these changes is for simpli-
flying traffic arrangements at the
intersection of Fifteenth street, New
York and Pennsylvania avenues and
G street.
'One Of Most Confusing"
This area was termed by engineers
as one of the most confusing in the
present street system" Today there
are streetcar tracks on Pennsylvania
avenue, New York avenue, G street
and tracks go south on Fifteenth
street from Pennsylvania avenue.
Under the proposed plan all Of
these tracks would be eliminated by
construction of the Connecticut
avenue, G street and Pennsylvania
avenue subways. The nearest sur
face streetcars would be along H
street.
1t also is planned to cut OF the
northeast corner of the Treasury
Building site, necessitating realign-
ment of the outer steps to run a
diagonal road from Pennsylvania
avenue into Fifteenth street opposite
G street. There would be a large
triangular block with trees between
the northeast corner of the Treasury
and Pennsylvania avenue.
Pedestrian Islands.
A slice would be taken off the
sidewalk By the corner of the Ma
tional Savings & Trust Co. Build
ing at Fifteenth street and New
York avenue, facilitating the turn
ing of westbotMd traffic from New
York avenue into Fifteenth street.
Pedestrian islands are planned on
Pennsylvania avenue, New York
avenue and Fifteenth street.
At the intersection of Fourth
street. Pennsylvania and Constitu-
ton avenues 1t is proposed to build
grade separations and channelize
traffic.
Raised fms will direct trafic in
such manner that Pennsylvania
avenue west of the intersection and
Constitution avenue east of the in
tersection become one thorough
fare" the report said. Similarly
Constitution avenue west of the in
tersection and Pennsylvania to the
east become another trafiic artery
IL Lanes of Traffic.
Thus IL lanes of traffic can move
simultaneously without conflict. The
fins will be lowered on hydraulic
jacks or removed by crane trucks to
permit the parades for which Wash
ington Is famous"
Trafic going west on Pennsylvania
avenue, wishing to get on Constitu-
ton avenue, would enter q tunnel
on Pennsylvania avenue In front of
the New Central Library Building,
and carry vehicles under Sixth
street, thus avoiding left turns.
Traffic going eastbound on Consti-
tuition avenue, desiring to switch to
Pennsylvania or Louisiana avenues,
would start underground on Consti-
tuition avenue between Fourth and
Third streets, pass under Third
street and emerge just east Of Third.
With car tracks removed by con-
struction of the Pennsylvania ave-
nue. subway, the 108-foot width Of
Pennsylvania avenue between the
Treasury and the Capitol. would be
divided into 43-foot roadways, with
low islands to facilitate left turn of
automobiles and provide protection
for pedestrians.
Another Major Change.
Another major change is planned
between the South Interior Building
and the Navy Department In order
to remedy traf1ic problems at the
intersection Of Eighteenth and Nine
teenth streets and Virginia and Con-
stitution avenues. Actually, 1t Is the
plan Of the Highway Department.
In general. It is proposed 70 have