Evening star., 1924-08-27
Street Widening Plans.

A public hearing will be held on the
9th of next month on the subject of
widening five thoroughfares to pro-
vide more room for vehicular traffic.
These are X street between Four
teenth and Sixteenth, Tenth street
from F to Massachusetts avenue.
Eleventh street from E to G., NJ street
from Twenty-ninth to Thirty fifth,
and Bladensburg road from II street
to the end of the asphalt. Some of
these streets are in urgent need Of
resurfacing, and if the Commissioners
conclude, on full hearing of the
case, to include them in the widening
program. opportunity will be had to
do this repair work simultaneously.
But the paving question is sub
ordinate to the major matter OF street
widening. Recently, as a result of a
petition presented to Congress.
Thirteenth street between + and
was widcned, this process involving
the sacrifice of shade trees. BY a
mistake of judgment on the part of
the petitioners and Congress the
sidewalks were cut down too mar
rowly, and the work has been sus-
pended pending revision of the plan
and provision Of Il bond covering the
cost in case Congress does not ap-
prove the change in dimensions.
Meanwhile the street is in very bad
condition, and traffic, for which the
widening was proposed. has been
seriously impeded
The experience in the matter of
Thirteenth street makes it advisable
to ascertain the wishes of the citizens
before Congress is asked for author
ity to make the change in width.
But more is involved than the matter
Of relative pavement and sidewalk
widths. The present proposal is to
increase the traffic space, and this
involves the whole traffic problem.
Are the streets named in this sched-
ule to be widened in order to pro-
vide more room for moving vehicles,
or to give more room for parked cars?
All save the Bladensburg road are
L,
In which a time limit is in theory
put upon parking. If the present
rule against all-day parking in this
area is enforced, as it should be, the
widening Of the streets will not re-
lieve the parking situation. If the
rule is not fully enforced, as at
present, the street widening will
merely give more room for moving
traffic between the lines of stationary
vehicles.
Since the Thirteenth street work
was started, and especially since the
recent and instantly repudiated pro-
posal to use Franklin square as a
parking area, a strong public senti-
ment has been expressed against any
further spoliation Of Washington's
chief beauty. its shade trees. On K
street. especially, would the street
widening cause a sacrifice of trees.
1t is argued there. however, that as
K street has a double line Of trees,
the removal Of the inner rows would
leave the street still powered. But
there is fear lest this process, already
started on Thirteenth street, may
continue as the traffic question be-
comes more acute.
All these considerations will be
developed at the hearing on the 5th
Of September. 1t is to be hoped that
every interest will be represented on
that occasion and we'll voiced. This
IS a question in which all Washing
ton is interested, motor owners,
motor dealers. those who have no
motors, and in general citizens who
retain a pride in the appearance of
the Capital. There are really no
antagonisms. though some of the
interests conflict. The true solution
Of this problem of Washington's
traffic will not be reached though
the undue pressing of selfish points
OF view, but will be attained after a
careful balancing Of all the factors
The Commissioners must decide in
order to make a report to Congress
which will be the basis Of legislative
action.