Evening star., 1929-11-17
PLAN GROUP HEARS
TRADE BOARD PLEA
18th Street ArchWay Into
Triangle May Be Advocated
by Commission.

Ger. the National Capital Park anc
Planning Commission yesterday consid'
cred a wide range Of subjects affecting
the future Of Washington. Outstand-
ing among the topics laid before the
commission was that Of a traffic outlet
southwark at Thirteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue, which officially
was brought to its attention by dele
cation from the washington Board OF
Trade in conjunction with plans for
future development of the public build
ings program of the Federal triangle.
Questions of coming changes foI
apartment houses and alterations in the
highway plans for the city we're con-
sidered by the commission, which au-
thorized its staff to make further
studies relating to the coming proposals
1t is expected that report on this
phase will be made at the January
meeting.
Suggest Memorial Changes.
The commission suggested certa I
changes in the model for the George
Washington Memorial, to be erected on
Seventh street below. PENNSYLVANIA
avenue, after 1t had viewed the pro-
posed structure In miniature. This
program is in line with q recent sug-
gestion of the commission that models
Of buildings proposed, affecting the
public interest, be made on the same
scale, so that they may be assembled
and give q bird's-eye view of their de-
Blopment, In relation to other struc-
lures.
Official Endorsement was given by
the commission to the program, drawn
up by its staff, for the proposed nfonu-
mental entrance to washington at Wis
corsin avenue and the District line. It
likewise sanctioned the proposed Fern
street underpasS at the Baltimore &
OHIO Railroad tracks, near Piney
Branch. Both Of these matters. which
have received the approval Of the CO.
crolnatlng committee, will now go be-
fore the District Commissioners for
action.
j. A. Howard, real estate man. ad-
vanced before the commission his pro-
posal for the opening up of Oklahoma
avenue, near the National Arboretum
site at Mount Hamilton, and pointed
out why. in his opinion, Maryland ave-
nue. should be extended so as to make
another route to Baltimore. The COM
mission took this program under ad-
visement and will give further atten-
tion to this development which it has
been studying in conjunction with the
Department of Agriculture.
AaIh GNdmoS Report IS MADE.
The report on park names. designed
to eliminate Implications and avoid con-
fusion. was considered by the commits
sion. but no definite action was taken.
Highway problems relating to Adams
Mill road and the entrance to the Zoo
were given attention during the days
deliberations.
Matters of land purchase were con-
sidered, but the commission made Moth
ing public
Additional consideration will be given
recommendations to be made by the
water supply committee that is study
ing the prospective needs of the metro
politan area for the next so years. The
commission officially was informed of
the present status of the inquiry.
During the course of deliberation on
the transit and trafic situation, the
commission authorized the employment
OF special experts TO assist its staff
in studies, If this should be found de-
sirable. Capt. E. N Chisolnl, jr., the
commissions engineer, explained that
the tentative plan for the Mall develop
ment calls for arterial highways at
Fifteenth, Fourteenth, Twelfth and
Ninth streets, going under the four
driveways on the Mall This. he said,
VIII obviate the necessity for grade
crossings at those points and will care
for 40 per cent more traff1c, it Is esti-
mated, than at present.
The commission authorized its staff
to redraw the plans for the street ar
rangementS crossing the Mail, in the
light OF recent studies that have been
made concerning them.
May Recommend Archway.
In connection with the movement of
the Board Of Trade to prevent the
blocking OF Thirteenth street at Penn
Sylvania avenue, the commission, 1t was
indicated, probably will recommend the
creation of an automobile archWa+ as
a continuation of Thirteenth street into
the heart of the triangle
Plans for the proposed archway were
revealed by Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, Sd
vice chairman and executive officer of
the commission, but he emphasized to
the Trade Board delegation that he
would not promise definitely that this
would be recommended by the COM
mission.
The proposed arch, according to Col
Government building to be erected
across Thirteenth street at Pennsyl-
Vania avenue. No facilities will be pro-
Vided, however for traf11c passing all
the way through the triangle develop
ment. The pasSagewAy would merely
constitute means OF entering the tri-
angle area.
The present plans call for similar
archway on the south side from B
street. The two roadways will not
meet, however, being separated by the
parkway of an interior court, thus pre-
venting the passage being of much
value to through trafic, advocates Of a
through street assert.
Since the accommodation of traffic
travelling from the commercial district
of southwest Washington to the busi-
ness and residential sections to the
north was one of the principal aims
of the Board of Trade in their fight
against the closing of Thirteenth street,
little would be gained, from their point
of view, II the planning commission
follows the line Of action indicated by
Col Grant.
The passageway under the building,
1t is thought, would be used only by
employees working in those buildings
opening on the court between Pennsyl-
varia avenue and B street and south
of the intersection of Thirteenth street
and the Avenue.
The Trade Board submitted traffic
count to sustain It's position.
Col Grant commended the board on
the thoroughness Of the investigation
into the traffic situation and requested
the organization to make a study OF the
parking conditions in the triangle area
for the commission. This will be done.