Civic Planning Board To Study Congestion In Square Bottleneck

The Cambridge Planning Board has begun a study aimed at formulating a general development plan for Harvard Square.

The study includes a comprehensive analysis of traffic and parking problems in the Square, called "one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the country."

"It is hoped that portions of the plan relating to traffic can be implemented in five or six months, before actual formulation of the plan," Robert A. Bowyer '56, Associate Planner, disclosed yesterday.

He said a survey to determine the nature of traffic in the Square will be completed in three months. The survey will probably result in the appointment of a traffic engineer to solve the prblem.

Bowyer declined to speculate on what the recommendations will be. He said "everyone has his own pet theory" on traffic in the Square and preferred to await the survey results. If traffic is primarily business traffic, solution to the problem might be better parking facilities. Perhaps only a change of street markings, thus rerouting traffic, would be needed.

Besides making recommendations to Council about traffic, the Planning Board will compile data for businesses and investers regarding growth in the Square area. With information about trends in the local market, rational planning by the city and individual entrepreneurs alike would be possible.