Evening star., 1952-02-01
Board Of Trade
Hears Robinson
On Road Plans
$40 Million Project
For District Outlined
By Commissioner
By John w. Stepp

L. Robinson, Engineer Commits
sioner, outline the new $40 mil.
lion highway plan at luncheon
meeting in the washington Hotel
Only 80 members had arranged
to attend, but 1876 showed up
Among them were the chairmer
of six of the boards municipal
planning committees.
While the membership listened
intently to Gen. Robinson's report
only one question was forthcom'
ing at the close: How did thu
Commissioner feel about the Dis.
trict's borrowing money to f1nanc'
the road plan?
The general ducked that one.
"I want to take a look at the
whole picture before I state any
thing on that score, he said. 1--WE
don't want to go of on q tan
gent"
Reports in Prospect.
Thomas j. Groom. board presi-
dent, told reporters after th'
meeting that he hopes commit.
tee studies on traffic and property
value problems will be completed
In time for a report in March.
At that time, Mr.. Groom said
It is likely that the boards traffic
findings will be considered in
relation to the new highway plan.
Speaking Of the program. Mr.
Groom said the board is parti-
cularly in favor Of the co-ordi-
mated nature Of the Metropolitan
Area highway survey, which LED
to preparation Of the District
plan. Maryland and Virginia au-
thorities are due soon to release
their portions of the co-ordinated
area road plan.
Samuel r. Harrison, deputy di-
rector of District highways, Is
chairman of the Regional High
way Planning Committee, whose
study of area traffic problems be-
gan nearly four years ago.
Mr.. Harrison acted as chief
liaison between the committee
and the District Highway Depart
men and took an important part
In the formulation Of the local
highway program.
Gen. Robinson dealt at some
length with various aspects OF the
10-year program.
r. Three Chief Factors.
He explained that population
growth, mere autornohileS and
trucks to serve the population and
an unbalanced distribution OF all
three are chief factors necessitat-
ing remedies for the arsa highway
system. fs.
The most important single fac
tor. according to Gen. Robinson
has been the increased population
in the entire area.
The further fact that large num-
bers of area residents live on the
opposite side of town from tAei1
Jobs is, in turn, responsible fol
the greater part" of the trathc
tangle, since many pass through
the downtown area.
"Ten years ago." Gen. Robin
son pointed out, there were only
two traffic flows of any conse-
ouence-inbound In the morning
and outbound in the evening. To-
day the outbound morning move.
ments and the inbound evening
movements on a number Of radia
routes are almost equal to thu
flows in the opposite directions. )"
Converging Causes Trouble.
Particular trouble. he said, is en-.
countered where these traffic ar.
teries converge and cross eact
other. 1
Data on the travel habits oi
area motorists showed that about
$4,000 trips were made during
an average 24-hour weekday ir
1850 having destinations down.
town.
On top of that, 122,500 trips
passed through the downtown Sec
tion en- route to some other point
In the same period. ..,
These figures clearly indicated
according to Gen. Robinson, that
an irner-belt street layout should
Riphon away from downtown the
As per cent of motorists who want
10 get to the other side OF the
central area.
The study committee also de.
termined that every passenger cal
in the Metropolitan Area averaged
nearly four trips daily, and trucks
seven. This works out to about i:
million passenger trips ans
1910 truck trips on an average
24-hour weekdays In 1850. a1t
that doesn't include interstate
traffic.
Bridge Traffic Jumps.
Traffic over the Potomac Rive
bridges in the last 10 years, IN
creased IS per cent, to 200,4
trips, per 24-hour weekday, ant
no per cent to 173,606 trips, owe
the Anacostia River Bridges.
A check of 10 principal street
showed a 80 per cent traffic In
crease, to 616,274 trips. Incoming
volume from Prince George
County went up 80 per- cent, tt
l94,027 trips, ana Montgomer'
County. 40 per cent. to 151,ol
trips.
But, Gen. Robinson emphasized
It is in the downtown area tina
the greatest degree Of conges
ton, driving strain and delay an
increased cost Of motor vehicl
operation are found"
There" he warned, "wil b
found progressively stronger evi
dence Of community blight whic
threatens the economic base 6
the District by endangering tn
value Of the existing assessabl
property"
Nor did the Districts perenni:
parking problem escape the after
tion Of the Engineer Commissions
in his summary.
a. L. L.. a.a-V~ mNaa