William L. Mertz transportation collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)

Preferred citation:

William L. Mertz transportation collection, C0050, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
47.5 Linear Feet 62 boxes
Creator:
Mertz, Lee, 1920-1993
Abstract:
The collection contains transportation related materials collected over a 45-year period. Types of materials include scholarly journal articles dealing with transportation topics, summaries of congressional acts relating to transportation, official reports and studies of transportation agencies, summaries of speeches given by transportation officials, and personal correspondence among transportation officials.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

William L. Mertz transportation collection, C0050, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains transportation related materials collected over a 45 year period. Types of materials include scholarly journal articles dealing with transportation topics, summaries of congressional acts relating to transportation, official reports and studies of transportation agencies, summaries of speeches given by transportation officials, and personal correspondence among transportation officials. Many of these documents are photocopies of the original materials. The material covers a wide variety of topics, such as The Federal Highway Acts, bridges, buses, the environment, transportation in cities, commuting, and trucking. Organizations represented by materials in the collection include the Federal Highway Administration,the Department of Transportation, the Tri-State Transportation Commission, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Optical instrument - unknown use

2 hand written letters from Mr.James quoted in a inclusive document

Home Interview Survey Sample Design, Production Control of Home Interview Survey, Preliminary Trip Generation Results, Preliminary Estimate of Rail Car Volume and Flow in the Tri-State Region, Domestic Intercity Freight, Manhattan Cordon Crossings

Aerial and Line Maps for Tri-State, Technical Auditing of Home Interview Survey, Population Density - 1960, Employment By Industry in the Tri-State Region, The Tri-State Region Freight Flows

Field Operations of the Home Interview Survey, Geographic Coding of the Travel Surveys, Committed Freeway Mileages in 20 Cities, Use of the Abacus in Urban Transportation Planning

Census Tract Area Measurement By template, What is Software, Financing Tri-State Operations, Transportation Through Cooperation, Testing the Feasibility of a Secaucus Transfer Station, A Beginner's Lexicon of Tri-State Language

London Transport Conditions in 1964, Development of the Highway System in the Tri-State Region, Passenger Trends on the New Jersey Suburban Railroads 1961-1964, Landmarks in Planning the Tri-State Region, Quality Control of Coding

Some of the More Important Trends in the Development of London Transport,Cost of Producing Standard Tri-State Publications, Some Results of the Study of Quantified Regional Development Alternatives, Building Newark Coding Guide, Delineation of the Tri-State Cordon Line

Direct Traffic Assignment: An Antiquarian Addendum, Home Interview Survey Completeness Checking Procedures, Developing the Minimum Comparability Data File, Man Triumphant? Extracts From a Prologue

Job Control in Data Processing; Regional Bus Equipment Inventory; Direct Expenditures by Households for Transportation; Trends in Tractor - Semitrailer Traffic

A Region on the Move: Travel Choices Depend on Destinations; We File It -- And Don't Forget It; An Approach to Maximizing Toll Revenues; Toronto: Rapid Transit's Romance with the Automobile

Software Revisited; Expanding the Home Survey Interview Survey; Blocks Aren't Only for Child's Play

A Profile of Land Planning The Traffic Volume Estimating Techniques, Coding the Truck - Taxi Survey

Transit Trends

Vacancy Rates in the Tri-State Area; How Many Will take Their Cars? Highway Speeds-1; Procedure used in Expanding the Truck Survey

Home Interview Survey Validation - 1; Inside 505 - 501 [Grid coordinates]

Home Interview Survey; Validation: Suburban Railroads, Urban Rapid Transit, Screen line Checks; The Form of the Urban Region

The Social-Economic Future of the Tri-State Region

The Region's Unique Rapid -Transit System - In Newark

Findings of the Taxi Survey

Theoretical Traffic Volume and Timing Studies; Chicago Plans Its Future; The Use of Electronic Computers

Program 30th Annual Meeting, ITE; New Horizons for Transit in Metropolitan Chicago,The Problem of the Amber Signal Light in Traffic Flow; Traffic Assignment to Street and Freeway Systems; Building a Second United States

Western Association of State Highway Officials Road Test data analyses and findings

History of American Interstate Highway System

Discusses Investment Deficit in Public Works

United Nations White Paper

Includes a short draft description of each of the 19 subordinate working papers.

Changing Demographics and Economic Use

Trends and Forecasts of Highway Passenger Travel

Trends and Forecast of Highway Freight Travel

Advancements in Highway materials and Construction Technology

Advancements in Automobile Technology

Advancements in Motor Truck Technology

Advancements in Telecommunications and Computer Technology Affecting Highway Travel

National Defence Highway Requirements

Urban and Suburban Highway Congestion

Highway Requirements for Freight Movement

Highway Performance and Investment Analysis

Federal Highway Investment Program Structure

Federal Mandates for Highway Operations and Safety

State, Local and Private Highway Roles

External Federal Policies and Motor Carrier Safety Laws and Regulations Affecting The Highway Program

195 pages; History

Representative Robert Roe and his stand on funding public works

humorous discussion of chauffeur perk

deals with ownership and funding of transportation infrastructure

Interstate Travel; Metropolitan Area Transportation; Small Urban and Rural Access; Highway and Traffic Safety; Highway Program Management

Politics Negatively Affect Transportation Profession; "Megabus" Claimed as a Low Cost alternative to Light Rail; Minimum Drinking Age Laws Have Saved Lives; FHWA Receives Comments on National Highway-Railroad Crossing Study

control of "pork barrel"

brief summary of W.L. Mertz career starting in 1949

Includes information regarding Mertz's involvement in 2 week urban transportation course

Information on the New River Gorge Bridge

New Look Road signs; Sulphur to Conserve Asphalt;Bicycle Paths;55 mile per hour speed limit;100 mile an hour super highway proposed

draft of speech, brief discussion of cost and projection of future

Abstract of documents from 1944 to 1973

reprint of an historical letter from Governor Martin Van Buren to President Andrew Jackson protesting the spread of a new form of transportation "railroads"

various documents Mertz kept regarding his career: initial appointment document, political appointment notice, retirement party

a detailed article on computation and "electronic computer capabilities"; includes the authors personal experiences with FORTRAN and programing skills

Corrects a misstatement regarding the flow of planning money within the states

States preference for inexpensive public transportation solutions

a report of efforts to improve the NYC subways in early 1980's

a description of the Tri - State "Technical Division" structure and functions.

describes road conditions supporting vacation touring

summary of "UTAP" LEGISLATION

describes planning as seen by Mr. Mertz

a poem presumably about a co-worker of Mr. Mertz

a tribute to Thomas H. MacDonald upon retirement as U.S. Commissioner of Public Roads

Based on terms for reimbursement, this appears to be a consultation provided by Mr. Mertz and Mr. Reulein to Nihon Doro Kodan of Japan

Transportation 2020 correspondence forwarding Major categories of issue-related policies and options for each

Charlotte County

views touch topics of revenue sharing, law passed 12/31/70, environmental impact statements

a brochure opposing a referendum on transportation in Maine

includes brief summary of MacDonald's career and contributions to Federal Highway program.

Mertz listed as receiving a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering

Col of Engineering magazine includes a short biography of Mertz

brochure describes the foundation's interest in funding transportation research and information

includes an article written by Mertz; "Involvement of Public Utilities in Transportation'

map

multiple modes of transportation

499 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington D.C. was the headquarters of The Regional Highway Planning Committee

historical

incomplete

list of attendees

Congressional Hearings before a Joint Committee on Washington Metropolitan Problems

maps and narrative material regarding the national system and highways in North Dakota, California, New York, Connecticut, Nevada, New Mexico, Vermont, South Dakota, Minnesota and Texas; a pamphlet describing the use of "Ace Joints'

Maps and reports of highways in Missouri, Illinois, Florida, Maine, Ohio, as well as progress maps of the national system from 1968 to 1976

includes hand draft of outlines for training and a copy of pages from the Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture, Progress of Road Building

recommended routes for the Federal Interstate Program

maps of regions

maps of regions and a discussion of the Development of Federal Policy on Highway Toll

Articles on completion of San Diego Freeway and on the Redwood Highway

14

the problem of the analysis of transportation networks and suggested approaches through modern graph theory

Includes requests for information and replies regarding Administrative and Financial Aspects

Report from Bragdon and Comments from BPR

includes reports from Secretary of commerce and Presidential messages

information provided to Mertz to support work on history of Interstate

information provided to Mertz to support work on history of Interstate

includes "Documentation for Nomination by National Capital Section American Society of Civil Engineers of National System of Interstate and Defense Highways for ASCE "Outstanding Civil Achievement Award" for 1974

Includes correspondence regarding writing a history of FHWY and copies of documents regarding Federal government establishment of highway agencies. Also contains pictures of Regional and District Engineers in 1951 and 1967.

Dissertation for PhD in Maryland University

3 part book aimed at providing citizens basic information on: (a) benefits of highways, (b) elements of highway program, and (c) case studies of individual benefits for specific sites.

3 part book aimed at providing citizens basic information on: (a) benefits of highways, (b) elements of highway program, and (c) case studies of individual benefits for specific sites.

includes pictures of participants

includes pictures of participants

urban transportation

includes pictures of attendees

requests from States and Congress for specific Inter-State Route locations and Bureau of Public Roads replies

In defense of a park versus a highway, a collection of 31 photographs illustrating use of Riverside Park in New York City.

Nominations for the award. Also included is a recap of Mr. MacDonald's service to public roads.

Mr. Little made a proposal to award money to states for completing their portion of the inter-state system on time.

Concerns false and misleading statements made on Mr. Brinkley's 10/1/62 TV show.

Prepared by F.C Turner, Retired FWHA Administrator

includes pictures of participants,presentations of each of the major elements of headquarters

Includes pictures of participants, presentations of key elements of headquarters, reduction in employment ceiling and average grade

Readers digest Articles critical of FHWA program and replies

Includes Material on the Concept of Local Needs in Section 116 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956

possible Interstate routes through DC

includes information on early Thomas MacDonald; Alice Huyley Ramsey's cross-country drive in 1909

Includes information on President Eisenhower; and a 1959 Study of Metropolitan planning for Land Use and Transportation

includes information on "Metro" construction progress

Maryland Planning documents

Short personal narratives by Federal highway construction personnel including human aspects of construction

includes a large map of the area

Diversion of highway tax funds to other purposes

the Additional 1,000 miles was authorized by the 1956 Act

included Original Motor Carrier Safety Regulations issued in 1939 and first codified Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

a manuscript by Mertz

A monograph written by Mertz summarizing the critical investigation of the Federal Interstate program by a committee appointed by President Eisenhower.

abstracts of Federal law regarding roads

complied by Department of Transportation

A Report to the Secretary of transportation from Urban Advisors, a group appointed by the Secretary

A report prepared for the Department of Transportation

A technical report by Westinghouse Electric Corporation for Department of Transportation about an electric propulsion system for passenger rail service.

A report by Booz, Allen and Hamilton evaluating 4 different propulsion systems used in San Francisco Municipal Railway system.

prepared for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority [truck is used in the science of railroad usage]

by Carnegie Mellon for DOT

produced by Commission of the European Communities

report required by Motor Carrier Act of 1980

report completed for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Includes a study of 5 commuter rail systems, Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Port Authority Transit Corp (PATCO), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp (PATH) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

bi-lingual

A Reprint of a statement made by Thomas H. MacDonald, Commissioner of Public Roads, to a Senate subcommittee in 6/50

a report to Congress on rural roads

Message from the President of the United States to Congress

Association of American Railroads

articles on the Highway Trust Fund, Utility relocation, Peace Corp Road Project

part of a joint research program between Michigan State University, Michigan State Police and the Bureau of Public Roads

Fed'l Highway Administration pamphlet

symposium presentation papers from several of the participants

Summary of conference results, findings and presentations. Prepared by GMU national Center for Suburban Mobility

Explored the feasibility of using subway tunnel air as a heat sink/heat source for surrounding buildings.

Office of Technology Assessment, Congress of the United States

VHS of Road to Happiness (1942) and updated introduction from 1980s. Diskettes contain U.S. highway information from the 1960s.

Photocopies of older materials

Urban Freeway Development in Twenty Major Cities, August 1964

Biographical / historical:

William Lee Mertz, a former Federal Highway Administration Associate Administrator, played a leading role in planning and developing the Interstate system of highways in the United States. Born in 1920, Mertz started his career as a highway engineer with the Bureau of Public Roads in the Department of Commerce. As a field engineer, Mertz worked on many interesting and important transportation projects. He took part in the 1955 Road Test in Ottawa, Illinois, where the basic designs for Interstate pavements were developed. Mertz was assigned in 1956 to the Bureau of Standards to develop standards for computer software for use in highway engineering applications. During the 1960s he worked with such groups as the National Capital Transit Agency in Washington, D.C. and the Tri-State Transportation Commission in New York. He also served as an administrator in the planning of the Interstate Highway System, including the Washington Beltway, I-95 in Maryland, and the Washington Metrorail System. In 1969 Mertz returned to the Federal Highway Administration as Chief of the Urban Planning Division and developed transportation planning studies in all 213 metropolitan areas of the nation. After he left the Federal Highway Administration, Mertz took it upon himself to assemble documents and materials that were important in the development of the Interstate system, and, more generally, to the development of highways and urban transportation policy. Mertz died in 1993.

Acquisition information:
Collection donated by Jonathan Gifford, Marty L. Freeman, and Perry M. Kent in 1994-2000.
Processing information:

Processed and finding aid compiled by Robert Vay, Vikram David, Estee L. Dudash, Barbara Haase, and Kaycee Morgan in 1995. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged alphabetically by subject.

the Region's Bus Network: Huge, Complex and Varied

Physical location:
R22 C2 S7 - C4, S2-S7