Evening star., 1952-03-03
Time for Military Cooperation

While the Arlington Boards method of deal
ing with the vexing traffic problem at Arlington
Hall was bit drastic, the net result will be good
for all concerned if the move leads to joint
Federal-State and County action to solve the
problem. Apparently it required a jolt of the
type administered by last weeks sudden street
blockade to arouse the higher military echelons
to the plight of nearby residents.
Arlington Hall presented no traffic difficult
ties in the pleasanter days when the attractive
Colonial buildings were the home of girls
Junior college. 1t was only after the Govern
ment took the property over for highly secret
military purposes, during World War II, that the
troubles of those who live on the narrow, once
quiet residential streets near the post began. AS
the activities at the station grew, the limited
parking facilities inside the grounds soon were
filled to overfowing-the overflow taking up all
available parking space on both sides of ada
cent streets. Despite repeated protests by citi-
Gems and by county officials. minor authorities
ut Arlington Hall long did little or nothing about
the complaints of blocked garage entrances,
damaged lawns, discarded trash and disturbances
at late hours when the night shifts changed.
The military attitude seemed to be that the
question of where the employees parked outside
the reservation was of no official concern 1t
was only after many months of negotiations that
AlC 11dA COAIIILdIIO CIAdIScu ule parking 1OlS
inside the grounds, thus easing the parking stu
alton outside
But other troubles were to follow Congestion
at the main entrance on Lee boulevard became so
acute during rush hours that serious traffic jams
occurred on that important State highway. In
an effort to relieve this congestion, the county
opened short stretch of road so as to provide
access to the installation from the south via
Sixth, Seventh and Eighth streets. The idea was
70 siphon a small part Of the Arlington Hall
trafnc from Lee boulevard It turned out that
20 many of the employees were delighted with the
new approach that the trafhc during rush hours
over the streets to the south became dangerously
and exaSperatingly congested. Residents COM
planned bitterly of this new development. County
authorities discussed with State highway officials
. proposal to add feed-in lane to Lee boule-
ward, to divert slow-movng Arlington Hall cars
from the main lines of traffic on the boulevard.
Board members were informed that military
authorities showed no inclination to assist in
solution.
It was against this background that the Ar
lington Board ordered the county manager TO
close Sixth and Seventh streets during rush
hours to Arlington Hall traffic by reversing the
direction of traffic during the critical periods.
The board erred, however, in failing to instruct
the police to give Arlington Hall adequate ad-
vance notice of the change The result was
vehicular jam that affected cars all the way
to Columbia pike. The jam brought delegation
Of protesting Hall employees to the county court
house
The board has shown good judgment in grant,
ing special hearing on the matter tonight. It
is said that repercussions have reached all the
way to the top command at the Pentagon. This
is all to the good, for there has been too much
military apathy in the past over the Arlington
Hall parking and traffic troubles. It is time that
responsible military representatives sat down
with State and county officials in a cooperative
effort to work out ways and means of relieving
present conditions. More is involved in this
controversy than the comfort and convenience
Of a few property owners near Arlington Hall.
The orderly functioning of vital military in
stalation is involved, too.