Evening star., 1945-11-02
Traffic Forum
Studies PARKING
Under EIIipse
Use Of Space South
Of District Building
Also Is Discussed
By DON s. WARREN.

Also Is Discussed
By DON s. WARREN.
Proposals for use of the Ellipse
and the Government area south of
the District Building as sites for
Underground parking garages were
advanced today as the Traffic Sub.
committee Of the House District
Committee went into its second day
OF an open forum on means Of
curing the Districts parking prob.
lens.
Considerable discussion over ,ln-
derground garages developed during
testimony by Maj. Gen. U. s. Grant.
III, chairman Of the National Cap.
ital Park and Planning Commission.
When pressed for his views by Rep
resentative Hebert, Democrat, of
Louisiana, subcommittee chairman.
Gen. Grant said such facilities, IL
built and operated by the Govern
ment, could pay for themselves over
long period at charges OF 10 cents
per car per day.
Gen. Grant, however, did not 20
so Tar as to recommend such ga
RACES. In fact, he said he was mot
quite sure" the beauty of the area
could be preserved or that the ga
rage would be large enough, with
It's size restricted to preserve old
trees on the edges Of the Ellipse.
Ventilation Difficult Problem.
In addition, he warned, there
would be serious question of ven
t1lation. He questioned also whether
the location was convenient to the
business section, and pointed out
that the Ellipse now is largely used
for recreation and that to use the
area for parking might "hurt one
group to help another"
M. 0. Eldridge, acting traffic de
rector. today's first witness, sug-
gested use of the Ellipse for an
open-air surface parking lot. He
declared this wouldn't destroy the
beauty OF the area. No trees need
be cut down. "Only the grass would
disappear" he said, advocating that
the area be paved.
Mr. Eldridge suggested that a fee
OF dollar for the first year be-
charged to those using this parking
space to cover the cost of paving
and any other expenses.
Again today, witnesses pointed to
the recently reactivated Motor We
hicle Parking Agency as the most
important immediate step, since it
has authority to condemn sites for
onstreet parking lots and garages at
strategic points in the city. which
may be developed and operated
either by private enterprise or by the
Government.
Hebert Wants Action.
Gen. Grant began his testimony bv
referring to surveys which had been
mace as long ago as 1926 and this
brought from Mr.. Hebert a declara-
tion that what he wanted was action
and concrete suggestions now
Mr. Hebert interrupted testimony
70 warn members of the Motor We
nlcie Parking Agency that after 90
DAYS I'm going to find out what your
actlons have been and what are your
aiiols and excuses. hope Won will
come through with something
tangible"
Gen. Grant submitted six daf,n;+.
recommendations. These were.
!. That funds for the DEVELOPMENT
OF fringe" land downtown parking
lots and garages be provided
promptly for the new PARKING
Agency. s
2. That legislation be enacted to
require a reasonable amount Of
parking facilities in all Government
buildings hereafter erected. The
House recently passed the Randolph
Dill 70 require provision of such
faculties for between 10 and 40 ner
cent OF the employees of new Federal
buildings.
Wants Facilities at Buildings.
5. enactment Of legislation reouir.
ing some" parking facilities for
FEDERAL buildings already erected,
4. Legislation directing the Zoninr
commission to adopt regulations re-
curing reasonable parking facilities
ASW UuliUlIlR hereafter
erected other than'tho now covered
by law.
5. Legislation requiring provision
OF fringe parking lots at the ter
minals OF all major traffic arteries
leading to the central area.
8. Legislation to require approval
by the Park and Planning Commits
sion OF the location of any parking
facilities built with public aid.
During debate with Chairman
Hebert over the present situation.
Gen. Grant said he thought existing
parking lots were charging too hiQh
q price. He said this was because
the demand so far exceeded the
supply.
Hearings were concluded shortly
after noon after additional sugpes-
tions by other witnesses. Chair
man Hebert announced that a
transcript of the hearings would be
forwarded to the new motor vehicle
parking agency with the suggestion
that 1t study the suggestions and
get to work prOmptly.