Evening star., 1946-05-01
Capital Transit
Traffic Plan for
ID. {. Studied
Proposals Include
Speed Highway,
Fringe Parking

Fringe Parking
Special rush-hour routes for buses,
express nonstop buses, better traf-
fic light schedules, parking on the
fringe of the. business district and a
superhighway surrounding downton
Washington were recommended to
the Commissioners today by the
Capital Transit Co. as it submitted
its views on how to solve transporta-
ton congestion.
The company's report, signed by
E. j. Merrill, president, and made at
the request of Special Transporta-
tion Advisory Committee, headed by
Assistant Engineer Commissioner
Joseph D. Arthur, jr., is the last
schedule to be submitted. Pre-
viously, professional and civic groups
have submitted similar reports for
the committees study, among them
the Board of Trade, Institute of
Traffic Engineers, American Auto
mobile Association and Keystone
Automobile Club.
~ WALL llOW DC GliC 3
task to sift all plans and recon-
mendations submitted, together with
those made by the Highway De-
partment and by consultants from
out of town, and recommend to the
Commissioners what course the
citys postwar transportation, high
way, parking and traffic improve
ments should take
Grade Separation Opposed.
Opposing use of grade separated
transportation facilities such as the
$50, 100000 underground streetcar
system recommended by engineer
ing consultants in 1914, except
where intense congestion makes
them absolutely necessary, the Mer-
rill report recommends.
l. Relieving congestion on car
tracks through furnishing special
route bus service during rush hours.
The transit company is already
proceeding along this line, but prog
ress depends on the number OF
drivers available. Mr.. Merrill said.
2. Improvement in traffic light
arrangement and timing to expedite
the movement of buses and street
cars as well as private automobiles.
3. Use of special express buses
at extra fare for stop service
where the volume of traffic Is
enough to justify it.
Fringe Parking Suggested.
4. Use of fringe parking to per-
NIT storage of automobiles in out
lying areas. Motorists would then be
carried into the downtown area by
bus.
5. A highway by-passing the CEN
trail business area. Described by Mr..
Merrill as a 'circumferential road
way" the highway he proposed
would be used by buses as well as
by private automobiles.
Without specifically mentioning
subways or underpasses. Mr.. Merrill
said permanent separation of differ
ent types of traffic is inherently
costly and should be limited to
places where serious congestion now
exists or will exist with further re-
VII ~ Va ddCOliODllCS.
Would Explore Other Plans.
Certainly all other less expensive
means should be carefully evaluated
and experimental with so as to
avoid, if possible, the most expensive
and inf1exible type of construction, )"
Mr.. Merrill said.
He emphasized that the establish
ment of costly, fixed permanent
changes in the physical layout of
streets and transportation lines" is
tied up with long-range planning for
i, the community as well as for the
transit company which must pro-
vide service convenient to the popu-
lation and economical in COST
Changes in the street layout
planned for the immediate future
should fit into the best plan that
can be devised for the city's future
development, Mr.. Merrill said.
AS the most important STEP to-
ward solution of the traffic prob
lem. Mr.. Merrill proposed establish
ment OF a cooperative group COM
prising representatives of the Dis
trlct Commissioners. the Public Util-
tiles Commission, the Park and
Planning Commission, various civic
and business groups and the transit
company.
Mr.. Merrill said it appears that
at present the most serious conges-
ton in the downtown section lies
in the area bounded by Seventeenth,
M and Seventh streets and Penn
sylvania avenue NV. Solution of
the traffic problem in that area, he
said, should go far toward relieving
congestion, but any plans made to
solve this immediate problem should
INT into the long-range pattern