Evening star., 1946-10-29
Merrill Offers
Plans toEase
TrafficProbIen1
Fourth Street Tunnel
Under Constitution
Is One Proposal

- vic IVPoSui
Several new recommendations for
of Washingtons trafic
problem were made today by E. D.
president Of the Capital
Transit Co., in talk before the Ad-
vertising Club in the Hamilton Hotel.
Mr.. Merrill's recommendations
were the result Of several months
study by his company's traffic ex-
pefts. One Of his recommendations
was for tunnel that would take
Fourth street under Constitution
avenue THUS opening up a non stop
highway into Southwest.
The Capital Transit engineers also
would have G street traffic flow
directly into Pennsylvania avenue
north of the Treasury.
Transit Official Speaks.
Mr.. Merrills talk followed one BY
Guy C. Hecker. executive manager
of the American Transit Associa-
tion, on THE Importance of Transit
in City Planning"
Staggering of office hours must
be continued, Mr.. Merrill said. ITO
do otherwise would multiply several
times the problems created recently
when the school system returned to
its 8 o'clock opening instead of its
previous $50 opening"
He warned that traffic problems
will become increasingly serious as
more private vehicles become avail
able. His 21-point plan, he pointed
out, was one to relieve present con-
ditions-not a long range plan for
1850.
Details of Plan.
Other details of the plan sub.
mitted were as follows:
The development of circumfer-
entail, belt or bypass highway OF
adequate capacity around the CEN
tral area. This will permit more
even distribution of traffic over the
downtown streets.
Express ways or 'freeways" radi-
ating from such a highway which
will serve as principal routes be-
tween outlying suburbs and the belt
highway.
Coordination of transit routes
with the highway system to include
the use Of such special highways by
transit vehicles, and the use of di-
rect routes between residential areas
and places of employment avoiding
the central district.
A detailed interim program Of
highway improvement including the
completion of the K street improve
ment, providing interior connections
with the circumferential route. (He
was referring to the plan to elevate
K street through Georgetown
|. The widening of Seventh and
Ninth streets to permit rotary traf-
f1c around Mount Vernon Square.
Traffic Flow Cited.
The improvement at Dupont Circle
SO that streetcars will not operate
against the flow of traffic.
I Functional separation of traffic at
Union Station.
The development of a better=oat-
let for Sixteenth street at H street.
A sound and comprehensive park
ing plan giving consideration to
gradual ultimate elimination of all
day parking on streets in and ad-
jacent to the central business area;
elimination of parking during rush
hours on all central area streets
where such parking interferes with
adequate handling of traffic.
Development of fringe parking
facilities in the vicinity of the belt
highway and co-ordinated with
transit.
Control of the development and
operation of offstreet parking facil-
tiles in the downtown area and strict
enforcement Of the rule against dou-
BILE parking possibly with the proyi-
sion Of more special curb location
for service vehicles.
The continuation and further de-
velopment of offstreet terminals for
transit vehicles at or near large
centers Of employment, such as now
exist at Thirteenth street, south Of
Pennsylvania avenue, and Eleventh
street and Pennsylvania avenue.
Curb Cut Backs Urged.
Curb cut backs to speed up the
handling of right turns and to pre-
vent encroaching of such movements
on other lanes.
Study of traffic signal timing, loca-
ton of traffic signals and stop signs
with consideration to the functional
use of the streets involved.
The study of possibility of ex-
pediting traffic and increasing
street capacities on certain selected
streets with a view to controlled
cross traffic at certain intersections.
The prohibition of left turn move
ments at certain intersections.
Designation of more one-way
streets in the controlling direction
and variation in number of lanes
of traffic In each direction depend
ing on relative volume.
A study of ,taxicab operation to
determine the possibilities of estab-
fishing taxi stands and regulating
them to dicollrape cruising.