Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-11
.BROOKLAND GROUP
>FAVORS OVERPASS
ON MICHIGAN AVE.
Citizens Association RecedeS
From Stand for Closing
Thoroughfare.
WANTS MONROE STREET
VIADUCT RECONSTRUCTED
Both Projects Endorsed in Compro-
mise Vote After Acrimonious
Debate.

for the proper elimination OF the Michi-
gan avenue grade crossing near the
Catholic University of America by con-
struction Of an adequate overpaSs at
that point and Strengthening the thor
oughfare was seen by its proponents
last night at the meeting of the Brook
land Citizens Association, which re-
scinded its former action which favored
the closing of Michigan avenue.
BY this action the association, after a
lengthy and heated debate of the entire
subject, went on record as indorsing,
not only the reconstruction of the Mon
roe street viaduct over the tracks of the
metropolitan branch of the Baltimore g.
Ohio Railroad, short distance away
from the Michigan avenue grade cross
ing, but likewise insisted that the
menacing grade crossing be eliminated
by the construction of viaduct to care
for the growing needs of the COM
munity. Pending before the House ap-
preparations committee, for insertion in
the District appropriation bill, which is
expected to be reported about the mid
die of the month, rs a Bureau of the
Budget estimate for an item for $145,-
600. designed to widen the bottle
neck" Monroe street oVerpaSs and its
approaches and also to construct a Pc
destrian underpass at the grade cross
ing at Michigan avenue.
Closing EvOkes Protest.
The Objectionable part of the pro-
posed legislation is that the Bureau of
the Budget program, which has the
backing of the District government. is
that it provides for the closing of the
Michigan avenue grade crossing to traf-
flc forever" This suggestion has evoked
bitter protest from interested citizens
in the Northeast section of the city and
ranged the citiZenry into two camps
those favoring immediate improvement
of the Monroe street overpaSs and those
that want the Michigan avenue grade
crossing eliminated, as the more dan
gerouS, through construction of an ade-
quate overpaSS there, on a Strengthened
thoroughfare, as suggested by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission
Last nights meeting brought spokes-
men for the opposing camps TO the fore
and staged long and acriminouS de-
bate.
DR.. Charles Armstrong, in strenuously
opposing closing of the Michigan ave-
nue. thoroughfare, as contemplated In
pendinU legislation, was one of the most
outspoken advocates of the elimination
of the hazardous grade crossing through
immediate and satisfactory action by
Miss Anna Burlingame, principal of
the Brookland School, opposed the clos
ing Of the Michigan avenue thorough
fare, insisting that this course would
throw large amount of traffic onto
Monroe street and prove an even greater
menace to the school children at Mon
roe and Tenth streets.
Sensing that the debate was drifting,
Rev. A. S. Mowbray, chairman of the
school committee, appealed to the OPP
posing groups to come together for the
common veal. He was credited with
influencing concerted action and bring
Ing about a vote so that the matter
could be settled and the sentiment of
the meeting tested out.
DR.. George r. Ellis favored the widen
ing OF the Monroe street bridge and T.
j. Llewellyn, president of the Rhode
Island Avenue Citizens Association, who
is also chairman of the committee on
highways, parks and waterways of the
Federation Of Citizens Associations,
warned that it is important for the
community to secure the best it can
now, while the legislation is pending,
and the proposal has run the gamut of
the District authorities and the Bureau
of the Budget.
The factor of trafic occupied an i'm
portant place in the discussion. Some
contended that the Monroe street route
was great favorite, while others main
tanned that the Michigan avenue
thoroughfare was an important artery,
which will grow more important with
the expansion Of the section 1t serves.
Vote Considered Compromise.
The final vote was considered a COM
promise, in favoring both the Monroe
street and the Michigan avenue grade
crossing elimination projects. as. both
sides were deemed to have sufficient
votes to prevent either faction from
having a clear-cut victory on its pro-
gram. Both sides conceded that the
grade crossing should be eliminated,
but the question at issue was whether
it should be done now or left until
after the Monroe street overpass and
its approaches are improved, and, SIM
ilarly, both conceded that the present
Monroe street overpass, with its camel
like hump" should be remedied.
Marvin M. Mclean. president of the
association, presided at the meeting,
which was crowded and indicative of
the keen interest that the situation
has aroused among the Brookland citi-
zenry.
Mr.. Mclean insisted today that last
nights vote was a triumph for the
Monroe street overpass project, which
his group is insistent shall go through
Immediately. This project, he said,
should go through at once, on its own
merits, and should not be hampered by
the Michigan avenue grade crossing
proposal, which, he said, Is an entirely
different program, which is likewise
favored by the Brookland citizens. The
associations president minimized the
alleged danger to the school children
by reason of the improved Monroe
street.
The resolution, designed to bring
about a compromise, was introduced by
Mr.. Mclean and C. C. Wolfel.
AC wJEDDTNI~