THE DESIGN OF THE HIGHWAY 197 



of the propositions and proposals that have been made by the people 

 on the panel. 



First, that Federal interstate highway money should not be used 

 for highways or freeways through parks. I have in mind here pri- 

 marily the Redwood Parks of California where we have had a great 

 controversy, but this could apply to other parks as well. 



The second proposal for a legislative change is based on the re- 

 marks of Mr. Halprin about the fact that rural highway standards 

 are not necessarily suitable for urban areas. The present Interstate 

 Highway Act has certain engineering standards which are appropri- 

 ate in the rural areas and may not be appropriate in cities. 



For example, I have in mind the 60-mile-an-hour or 65-mile-an- 

 hour requirement. Highways are cutting a great swath through 

 very densely populated cities, and we have had particular problems 

 with this in San Francisco. Maybe 200 feet wide, they could 

 do irreparable damage to the whole fabric of a city no matter how 

 well the freeway itself is designed. 



Would it be possible to relax the rigid standards in the Interstate 

 Highway Act to provide for traffic moving more slowly through 

 cities? You could move at speeds between 30 and 40 miles an hour. 

 I understand that you can move as much traffic at this speed as you 

 can at 60 or 65. Could you provide for slower traffic in cities with 

 the possibility of using existing street rights-of-way and building the 

 freeways beneath the streets for 30- or 35-mile-an-hour traffic? 



These are two legislative suggestions. I would like comments 

 on these, particularly from Mr. Whitton. 



Mr. WHITTON. Well, he speaks of a law requiring a speed. I am 

 not too well versed in the law, but I am not sure that the law requires 

 a minimum speed of 65 miles an hour. I think it is probably a stand- 

 ard that has been adopted by the State highway departments. I am 

 sure that in some urban areas, they are not designing for 65 miles an 

 hour. 



If the conditions were such that it seemed appropriate to build as 

 you suggest, I am sure that it can be done. 



Mr. HALPRIN. I know at one point I suggested to the State High- 

 way Division in California that this law should be relaxed, or this 

 requirement should be relaxed for the same reason Mr. Gilliam is 

 suggesting, so we could reduce the design speeds in the city. I was 

 told that that was impossible. 



