Merchant Raps Brattle Traffic Pattern

A local businessman yesterday charged bitterly that recent traffic changes in Brattle Square have increased congestion and caused a "monumental traffic jam" last Saturday.

In a letter to the City Council, William Ehrlich, vice president of Touraine's, said "Any of the members of the Council who were in Brattle Square on Saturday must have realized that the monumental traffic jam on that day was worse than any that has been experienced at any time in the past."

Robert E. Rudolph, Cambridge Traffic Director, has installed a number of traffic islands in Brattle Square in an attempt to speed up traffic flow and make pedestrian crossing easier.

Ehrlich claimed, however, that if Rudolph, does not remove the traffic islands in Brattle Square, he "will succeed in making a difficult situation worse."

Ehrlich also maintained that Cambridge police officers who work in Brattle Square are opposed to the traffic islands.

In a letter written to the Cambridge Chronicle-Sun, Ehrlich quotes a Cambridge policeman after last Saturday as saying, "I am in no position to criticize the Traffic Director, but just stand around here for a few minutes, and draw your own conclusions. And if you think this is bad just wait until you see it next week."

Ehrlich has also written John J. Curry '19, City Manager. Declaring that "I have yet to find anyone who believes that any good has been accomplished by the very complicated pattern." Ehrlich explained to Curry that the changes appear to be hurting business in Brattle Square by making it more difficult for people to cross the street.

Several Harvard and Radcliffe students disputed Ehrlich's conclusion last night. "You can almost cross Brattle Square now," one said. "And besides, driving through the islands is fun--like an amusement park."

In another traffic matter, Cambridge officials yesterday met with a representative of the State Department of Public Utilities to discuss a route change that would permit busses stopping in Harvard Square to use an underground terminal. The DPU, which must approve all route changes, took the matter under advisement.