Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-16
Asks Track Removal
Writer Suggests New Plan for
New York Avenue and
l4th Street.

To the Editor Of The Star:
I wish to submit to the readers
of The Star and the street car Of
fcials a possible solution of the
muddle on New York avenue at 18th
and 18th streets. The basic element
in this plan is the removal of the
tracks of the 14th street line from
l4th street all the way from New
| York avenue north to Thomas Circle
and placing this section of track on
18th street and Vermont avenue. 1t
would seem that the advantages of
having 14th street clear of tracks
vantage. if any, of tracks on 18th
street and Vermont avenue.
BY this substitution of line the
layout at 18th street and New York
! avenue would be slightly changed,
but no further complicated, and the
| automobile traffic problem should be
eased up a bit. The very awkward
curves and uphill crossing at 18th
and H streets would be entirely elm
mated, the four tracks in the 14th
street block from New York avenue
to II street would be reduced to two
and the curve and crossing at 14th
street and New York avenue entirely
eliminated.
The New York avenue line should
end just east of 14th street, not 10Th
street, as at present. The tracks
could be brought south close to the
| curbing, If desired, thus helping the
traffic turning north into New York
avenue from 14th. 1t is not believed
! that the hardship of walking one
block would be very great and the
advantage of having the entire street
/ surface of New York avenue from
| 18th to 18th absolutely clear of
| tracks cannot be overestimated.
| In the event of a merger OF the
| transportation facilities and the de-
velopment of transfer point at 18th
/ street and New York avenue one
| shuttle or stub track could be put
/ in along the south side of the ave-
nue. from 18th to 18th street.
The only bad feature remaining is
| the crossing at 18th and H streets.
| for crossings are of course, always a
| bad feature, but cannot well be avoid
/ ed. given two lines running in differ
ent directions. However, the sug-
points of really dangerous conges-
ton. and it helps to spread out lit
tie the already existing very dan
gerous congestion points.
1t is not believed that the removal
of tracks from 14th street between
!
would in any way be detrimental to
| the interests of business or property
! owners along that part of the street.
| The two big hotels would be but one
] block from the 14th street line. and a
large part of their business comes to
| them by auto and taxi service. Fiji
! teenth street is rapidly developing
! into a business street of fine office
! buildings as are the abutting blocks
! of /. X and l. streets, and would bene-
| fit. it would seem, by the proposed
[ change of line.
If such a change should be made
| the situation at Thomas Circle should
| be improved by the removal of the
sidewalk around the center grass plot,
/ as has already been suggested, which
! would widen the street and reduce
| the track curvature at the circle. 1t
/ would almost seem that the situation
| and traffic at Thomas Circle would
/ make subway under the circle not
/ only advisable but almost necessity.
| The problem there would thus be
solved for all time. c. Z. CURRIER.