Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
rNADUCTS AWAIT
7 CONGRESS ACTION
commissioners to Press for
T. Elimination of Four Grade
9rlS5@
r. Crossings.

8a5s4>
a. One of the important District needs
awaiting attention at the next session
sofs Congress is the legislation to elimi-
nate railroad grade crossings that still
remain on the outskirts of Washing.
ton.
~ The four locations where highways
cross steam tracks and which would
he eliminated by the construction OF
evi4ducts are at Michigan avenue.
sFsates road and Chestnut street. on the
Metropolitan branch of the Baltimore
and. Ohio Railroad, and at Quarles
street. near Keni1worth, where tracks
of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and
washington Railroad also pass.
Bills Failed in House.
The Senate passed the necessary
legislation to abolish all of these cross
ings at the session just ended, but
there was not time to obtain action
in the House. The bills retain their
status, however, and will come before
the House District committee In De-
cember.
w. When the Union Station was built
the grade crossings within the thickly
settled portion of the city were wiped
out, leaving a few scattered points in
the outlying area where highways
crossed the tracks.
With the rapid increase in the mum.
Der of automobiles and the gradual
development of communities near the
District boundaries, the necessity for
eliminating these remaining railroad
crossings increased. The movement
took definite shape about two years
ago following a fatal collision at ore
or the crossings, as result of which
mis- V1d n G1YT ~
the situation.
AT the conclusion of that study
they decided there were Eve important
intersections at which the highway
should either be depressed under the
railroad or carried over the tracks by
viaducts.
They decided at that time to ask
Congress to provide funds for the
elimination of one of these crossings
each year until the program was com
pleted.
First Step In 1925.
On March Q, 1925, Congress began
the program by authorizing subway
at Van Buren, street to take the place
OF the dangerous crossing known as
Lamond, and a short time later
$S4 600 was appropriated for the prof.
ect. The contract has been awarded
and the work should be completed in
December.
Early in the last session the Com.
missioners offered a second bill to sub.
stitute a viaduct for the grade cross
Ing on Michigan avenue, and this bill
passed the Senate. 1t Will be part
OF the unfinished business Of the
House District committee next
Toward the close of the last SEES.
sion the Commissioners had intro.
duced in Congress another more corn.
prehensfve measure, which would give
them specific authority to take care
of the remaining three crossings In
the program of Ave and general All.
thority to build sideways or viaducts
at any other points where it may be-
come necessary in later years. This
bill also passed the Senate and is
ready to be considered by the House
committee at the next session.
Positions of Viaducts.
In the case Of Michigan avenue the
viaduct would be constructed in the
line of that avenue, but in closing
the three other crossings the viaducts
would be placed at other nearby
streets, as follows: :.
In place of the Chestnut street
crossing, viaduct would be built at
Fern street, estimated cost $160,S95.
In place of Bates road, a yiaduct
at Varnum street, estimated cost
$40 .O00
In place of Quarles street, viaduct
at Eastern avenue, estimated cost
$154,313
The total thus authorized in this
general bill is S405,000, exclusive Of
the cost of the Michigan avenue Via
duct, to be provided for in a separate
bill.
In each case the railroad would be
required to pay half the cost of the
viaduct, and it is further provided
that if any street railway line is ex.
tended across yiaduct 1t shall pay
one-fourth of the cost of the bridge.
These bills which have passed the
Senate TO eliminate the Michigan ave-
nue., Bates road, Chestnut and Quarles
street crossings would give the Com.
fnisSioners the legislative authority.
but the funds would have to be pro.
vided for specifically in an appropri-
alton bill before the work could be
started.
Need of Prompt Action.
In recommending passage of this
Embarrassing legislation the Senate
OAoIAAC l SoAuiiilClSC tldo ltilS To say
as to the necessity for prompt action:
There is a strong public demand
for the elimination of these remaining
grade crossings in the District of Co.
lumbia because of their constant peril
to human life. The danger will in
crease as population in the sections
where the crossings exist continues to
grow; and, Furthermore, the cost of
condemnation of necessary land will
increase very considerably if construc-
ton Of the viaducts and approaches
is deferred until improvements are
erected on needed property which is
now vacant.