Evening star., 1945-11-06
Parking Agency Plans
Prompt Action 10
Relieve Congestion

Reactivated yesterday with the
swearing in of three new members,
the District Motor Vehicle Parking
Agency will meet at 1890 am.
Thursday to begin work and under
the admonition of Engineer Com
missioner Gordon r. Young to act
as soon as possible to relieve traffic
congestion.
At. the same time Chairman
Hebert of the Traffic Subcommittee
of the House District Committee,
who was instrumental in fastening
revival of the agency, revealed two
additional proposals were under way
to speed provision of of street park
ing.
One, he said, was an offer by pri-
vate financial interests to build
without any Government subsidy"
underground garages under CEN
trally located downtown parks, If
legal authority for such can be
granted. The other was proposal
to return to private car use the
Capital Garage on New York ave-
nue., now under Government lease.
Howat Named Chairman.
In a ceremony at the District
Building the revived parking agency
selected as its chairman P. Y. K.
Howat of the Howat Concrete Co.,
one of the agency's new members.
F. w. Lovejoy of the Bureau of
Public Roads was named acting
director of the parking agency, to
serve. until funds are available to
pay a full-time director.
The other two new members
sworn in during the ceremony in
Gen. Young's Office were Mark
Lansburgh of the department store
and Lee D. Butler, automobile
dealer. Other members from the
group first appointed by the Com
missioners in 1912 were present at
the ceremony, with the exception
OF w. A. Van Duzer, traffic director,
who was represented by M. o. Eld-
ridge, acting director. The others
were Albert I. Cassell, colored arch
itect; Irving c. Root, superintendent
of National Capital Parks, and Mr..
Lovejoy.
The agency members were well
coined by Commissioner j. Russell
Young, Gen. Young and Col. Joseph
D. Arthur, jr., assistant engineer
commissioner Each stressed the
pressing need for solution of the
Districts congested traffic prob
lem, and extended appreciation to
the group for their service.
Questions Presented.
Gen. Young presented questions
for agency consideration which he
outlined under seven points. They
included: Various types of parking,
necessity for estimating capital,
operating and maintenance cost
figures for each type, estimates for
charges the customers could pay.
consideration of such solutions as
underground parking space in pub
lie parks, the experience of other
municipalities. possibilities for max
ing bus-loading zones available for
parking in off hours and marginal"
parking and the necessity of some
recommendations which could be
put into effect as soon as possible.
He asked the agency to consider
first the things that can be done
first, legally and financially" with
out necessity of appropriations or
consent of Congress.
The Commissioners have asked
Congress for funds to start opera
ton OF the agency, through an item
now pending in a deficiency appro-
priation bill.
Spokesman interested in the pri-
vate development of underground
garages at Farragut, Mcpherson
Franklin or Lafayette Squares out
lined ideas late yesterday to Mr.
Hebert. He advised them to crys-
talize their projects and present
them to Secretary of the Interior
Ickes, who supervises Federal park
areas here.
VIII Sponsor Legislation.
III they develop concrete pro-
posals," said Mr.. Hebert. "and can't
get the approval OF Mr.. Ickes-and
doubt If he will agree to garages
under the parks-I will be prepared
to sponsor legislation to grant such
authority"
Mr.. Hebert added: Il do not
know what Congress viii say about
the question. but ! think 1t should