The Daily Times-News from Burlington, North Carolina • Page 8

(N Times News WednesdayJJec. 22, SW In Way Of tho ar beset by those who say the country ts Higl By Gibson Prather N. C. Highway Department RALEIGH, After several wrecks caused jam-ups on some of the state's interstate highways notably 1-85 between Greensboro and Durham on the last day of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the immediate result a call for seeking a rapid transit system to link the state's principal cities. This was the chief proposal put forward by legislators and newspapers, along with adding an extra lane to the 1-85 route and building another interstate south of and parrallel to Hto to connect Greensboro with the Raleigh-Durham area.

Admittedly the present highway is being called upon to carry all the traffic it can handle, especially on such holiday weekends as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Highway Administrator George S. Willoughby, Jr. told a Greensboro paper that the traffic on that portion of 1-85 is "nearmg the saturation point." Highway Commissioner Cliff Benson of Raleigh, whose area of influence contains a portion of this section of the interstate, told the same newspaper that something should be done and done quickly. He favored exploring the parallel route approach.

Obstacles To Plans There are, highway officials point out, serious obstacles to any plan that has been put forward. In the case of the secojid interstate route, there would have to be authorization from the Congress to add the mileage to the interstate svstem, something Congress may loath to do until the present allocated mileage is completed, or at least let to contract. And the rapid transit answer is going to call for some sacrifices on the part of the general public which motorists may. or may not be willing to make. It will call for some curtailment of movement that travellers may not find satis- fsctory The theory of rapid transit is that you get on a fast train in one city and get off in another, leaving your car at home and thus cutting down on highway congestion.

This is fine, but the truth about rapid transit is that it wont take you directly to Aunt house, or whereever it is you plan to visit during the holiday. Street Congestion Remains This is one of the principal reasons that transit systems have failed to halt congestion on city streets. They drop you off at your grocery store, or the post office, or the church or wherever it is your car will take you so handily. One of the most used arguments used against road building is that it simply attracts more cars, and we need to cut down on laying asphalt and concrete and spend our gasoline taxes in seeking others means of transportation. But while there is no doubt that transit systems will be one answer to the traffic problem in the years ahead, it should be remembered that is the public that is using the roads and it is the tax-paying motorist who is demadmg an ample highway system upon which to drive his car This is not just a North Carolina problem.

It is a national problem. Accidents Interrupt Traffic Anytime there is a bad accident on an interstate highway, traffic is going to suffer interference of movement. Probably every day of the year, a wreck causes some confusion caught in the middle But it may not come easily, 1 come in the years ahead, be- Chrinas MpA4P Open Doily Thru. Thursday Till 9-PM; Close Friday Dec. 24-6-PM- BURLINGTON GRAHAM PRICES IN THIS AD EFFECTIVE THRU PR DECEMBER 24 AT AP.

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