Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-16
TOARCHWAY MAY
Be RECOMMENDED
FOR 18TH STREET
Planning Commission Action
Probable as Result of Hear
ing, Says Grant.
ONLY FOR lNGRESS
TO TRIANGLE CENTER
Board of Trade Representatives
Heard at Session of Hour
and Half.

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission probably will
recommend an automobile archway as
a continuation of Thirteenth street to
the center of the triangle, Lieut.. Col.
U. S. Grant, Sd, as vice chairman and
executive officer, stated late this morn
ing following a hearing during which
representatives of the Washington
Board of Trade presented arguments
against the blocking of Thirteenth
street at Pennsylvania avenue.
Col. Grant explained that the arch
will be constructed in the Government
building which will be erected across
Thirteenth street at the Avenue. No
facilities for traffic passing all the way
through the triangle development viii
be provided, however. The passageway
will merely constitute a means OF in
gress to the center of that area.
Col Grant made it clear that he
could not promise definitely that this
would be the action of the Planning
Commission. He said it was his opinion
that the decision to construct the pas
sageway would be the one at which the
body would arrive.
Hearing Hour and Half Long.
The hearing this morning began at
10 o'clock and continued for one hour
and half. During that time Board
of Trade representatives, Robert J.
Cottrell, executive secretary; George v.
Graham, chairman of the boards COM
mittee; Henry E. Stringer and e. r.
Colladay, answered questions of the
members of the commission. A brief
outlining of the boards contention in re-
gard to the blocking of Thirteenth
street and facts supporting that stand,
which includes a detailed traf1c count,
was presented.
Col. Grant complimented the Board
Of Trade on the thoroughneSs of its in
veStigation into the subject and assured
1t that its case would be given careful
consideration. The commission request
ed the board TO make study Of the
parking conditions in the triangle area
and to come to them again with the
facts they find on this subject.
Col. Grant then explained to the
trade body representatives the Govern
ment'S present plans for handling traf-
nc around the new Federal buildings.
He laid great stress on the fact that
Ninth street and Fifteenth street, which
formerly ended at the Mall will be con-
tinued through to the waterfront. The
traffic capacity of Fourteenth street, he
said, will be increased by building
underpaSses at its intersection, with
driveways in Potomac Park.
Underground Provision
Twelfth street also will be run under
ground when necessary, he declared.
The position of the Board of Trade as
stated in its brief follows:
THE main problem presented is the
fact that the business section of the
atk g. AtnIH Ill
great volume OF passenger trafic and
the largest volume of commercial traf-
f1c, is almost completely blocked of
from the largest commercial centerS III
Southwest Washington and Northern
Virginia, which is important because of
the rapid development of both these
sections.
Thirteenth street, which it is pro-
posed to block, Is one OF the key arteries
of the city and has recently been
widened at great cost. 1t is to be
widened on through to the north, and
has been chosen by the public as the
main downtown arterial thoroughfare.
Eleventh street, which has been cut Oft,
has been widened at great cost and Is
the second OF the two wide thorough
fares leading to the Avenue.
Leaves Direct Route.
Thirteenth street, remaining open
through the triangle, would leave a
direct route, eliminating congeSted areas
for the Virginia traffic going to Mary
land destinations by way of Rhode
Island avenue. If Thirteenth street is
blocked at the Avenue traffic will still
seek and use this wide thoroughfare,
regardless, because Fourteenth street,
with its car line, is already congested to
the limit and Twelfth street Is too mar
row and cannot be widened north of
the Avenue, being only 40 feet. Taking
the present situation into considera-
ton and adding to it the trafic which
will come with the $4,000 employees in
the triangle. you can readily picture
what the traffic situation on this street
will be when it attempts to relieve it
self at Pennsylvania avenue going east
and west
Thus far, we have only discussed the
problem of passenger cars. The CUES
ton Of commercial vehicles which must
get through the city is difhcult one.
highways in this area and the Mall over
which they may travel Others, we
understand. will be prohibited. This
traft1c IS OF the type necessary to the
daily living of the city. Large quantities
OF food products from the sPennsyl-
yania freight yards, large qualities of
building material, large quantities of
food stuffs from the fish market. the
refrigerating terminals, as well as prod
ucts of other industries in This area
must come through the triangle"
Adequate facilities for traflc in the
triangle and the Mall are provided I'M
der the present building plan which
would close Thirteenth street at Penn
Sylvania avenue, Col. Grant ~,declared
last night before members of. the Ma
tlonal Press Club.
Urges Purchase of Island.
The remarks were made by Col. Grant
in the course of an illustrated talk
during which he told of the work of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission and the DEVELOPMENT Of
Washington from the original city ms
designed by LEnfant to the present
day metropolis.
He urged the acquisition by the Gov
eminent of AnaloStan Island and its
incorporation in the park system.
Other speakers were Charles w.
Eliot, I'd, city planner, and Capt. E. N.
Chisholm, jr, engineer of the planning
commission. Mr.. Eliot told of the out
lying park development of Washington
and Capt. Chisholm explained the high
way system.
The lectures last night were spon-
sored and arranged by j. C. Nichols of
Kansas City, Mo-, MEMBER OF the Ma
fnaa AL THr,al