Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-15
President LIeWeIIyn of Rhode
Island Ave. Citizens Says
Project Should Have Priority.
GROUP BACKS PLANS
OF COMMISSIONERS
Elimination Of Michigan Ave,
Crossing, Bridge Widening and
Other Items Favored.

InSistent that the improvement of the
Monroe street overpass and its ap-
proaches over the tracks of the metro
politan branch of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad, shall go forward now, Thorn
as j. Llewellyn, president Of the Rhode
Island Avenue Citizens Association, as
spokesman for that group, is backing
the District government in its proposed
legislation. He favorS elimination Of
the grade crossing at Michigan avenue,
near the Monroe street overpasS, but
asserts that it should not be given pri-
GRITTY, at this time, over the Monroe
street project.
One of the civic workers in closest
touch with the problem is Mr.. Level
Ign. who is chairman Of the highways,
| parks and waterways committee OF the
| Federation of Citizens Associations. Mr.
| Llewellyn explained that this problem
was referred to his committee by the
Michigan Park Citizens Association.
Bridge Widening Item.
After investigation, his committee
made q report that Congress include
an item in the 1881 appropriation bill
for the District Of Columbia for widen
ing Of the bridge and approaches al
Monroe street and likewise, further rec
|
| get item be amended so as not to elm
mate Michigan avenue, from Seventh
to Tenth street, from the highway plan
The committee did not specifically rec
ommend that Michigan avenue be clos
ed at the grade crossing.
One outstanding fact, revealed b.
the committee, Mr.. Llewellyn said, wa!
that IS per cent Of the population II
the area at present developed lies south
and east of the Monroe street line
The committee felt that there will b.
a need of bridge at Michigan avenue
in the near future to take care o.
the rapidly growing section in tn,
| Michigan Park region.
! Mr.. Llewellyn pointed out that Mon
roe street is the only safe highway NORTH
. or Rhode Island avenue, taking care o.
| all traffic east of the metropolitan
branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail
] road. leading to the Northwest. Mon
roe street. he contends, should accord
| ingly be improved at this time to taxi
care Of the traffic.
Plans for Strengthening.
The president of the Rhode Islanc
Avenue Citizens Association, who live
| at 1924 Otis street northeast, invited
,tention to the point that the Monro'
! rect improvement will cost abou
$4,000, while the Michigan avenu,
project will enable the expenditure O
some 100000.
The National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, Mr.. Llewellyn said. i
making studies to straighten out Michi
gan avenue from North Capitol stree
to Catholic University, and have plan
for Strengthening this thoroughfar,
/ from Catholic University to Tenth
street Mr.. Llewellyn said that he hat
been advised that If legislation Is pasSeC
at this time to close Michigan avenut
it might be difficult in the future t,
reopen this thoroughfare on a salts
factory basis.
The Rhode Island Avenue Citizens
Association, its president said, is insist
| ing that the Monroe street development
| proceed now, as this Is in the line o
present traff1c, but the group recognize
| that the Michigan avenue grade cross
ing will have to be eliminated soon ant
is in favor of this program. The aSso
citation is of the opinion, however, Mr.
Llewellyn said, that there is not tn
urgency in the Michigan avenue de
velopment that there is in getting riG
of a hazardous condition at Monro
| street.