Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-20
NEW ROADS ASKED
FOR ROCKVILLE
Engineer Root Outlines to
Chamber Plan to Relieve
Traffic Congestion.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


ROCKVILLE, Md, November 20.-An
address by Irving C. Root, engineer OF
the Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, featured the
monthly meeting of the Rockville
Chamber of Commerce in the Rock
vile fire engine house last evening.
At the request Of the Rockville court
house building committee Engineer
Root recently made a survey Of Rock
Vile and vicinity, with a view to max
ing suggestions regarding street and
road development in the county seat
and its environs, with particular refer
ence to fitting in with the proposed
courthouse building project and the
street changes necessitated thereby and
the plans of the commission for the de-
velopment of the proposed park area OF
the Rock Creek and Cabin John Valleys
and the driveways it Is planned to con-
Struct In connection Herewith.
Explains Drawings.
Mr.. Root explained drawings made
by him as result of his survey which
represented his ideas of street planning
and the construction of roadways lead
ing into Rockville and directed prin-
cipally at improving the serious traffic
conditions now existing in the town and
gradually growing worse as a result of
what he characterized as "one-street
town."
Engineer Root declared Rockville to
be handicapped by a very, very poor
street system" and stated that bust
ness establishments suffer greatly be-
cause Of the traffic situation.
His relief suggestions included the
opening of additional streets, two of
them to parallel Montgomery avenue,
each side, and construction of new
channels Of trafic from some of the
main thoroughfareS leading into the
town.
He expressed the opinion that much
of the land in and near Rockville, par
ticularly to the west of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad and north of the town,
is especially suitable for industrial en-
terpriSeS, and declared that he looked
forward to real industrial development
in the community.
Engineer Root also discussed the
elimination of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad grade crossing, advising the
use Of an underpasS several hundred
yards to the north as fitting in better
with the suggestions regarding i'm
provement of the traffic conditions, in
preference to the plans of the Mary
land State Roads Commission to re-
place the present overhead bridge some
distance to the south of the grade
crossing with an elaborate overhead
structure.
Follows Presidents Plan.
Mr.. Roots appearance before the
chamber was in keeping with the an
nounced plan of President Leonard l..
Nicholson, jr., to have the various
meetings of the organization addressed
by men of prominence, and it was
stated that the speaker at the Deem
Der meeting would be w. F. Ham Of
Washington, who will talk on public
utilities with reference to the Rock
vile community.
Following Mr.. Roots remarks, the
usual business session Of the chamber
was conducted by President Nicholson.
The matter of automobile parking III
Rockville's business section was given
attention, several business men express
ing dissatisfaction with the regulations
recently promulgated by the mayor and
council limiting parking TO one hour
from z am. to 2 pm. on the business
portion of the towns main street, ana
the president was authorized to name
a special committee of business meIi
to take the matter up with the town
authorities.
Postmaster Willis B. Burdette suggest
ed that the chamber take action IT.
garding the proposed painting Of the
name Of the town on the roof Of some
prominent building as guide to ait-
plane pilots, and the matter was re-
ferred to the publicity committee.
Treasurer William r. Prettyman re-
ported the paid-up members OF the
chamber to number 66 and stated that
several membership applications are
pending.
DIR. George L. Edmonds gave a resume
of the proceedings of the recent monthly
meeting Of the Montgomery County
Civic Federation, which he attended as
q delegate.