Evening star., 1930-05-23
Proposes Extension
Of Virginia Avenue
To the Editor Of The Star:

40 b&1o 6oito1 VI 4hc GteIs
The Evening Star Of the 26th instant
contains an interesting perspective pic
ture and description Of proposed new
buildings for the Navy Department and
the War Department west Of Eighteenth
street and north Of B street, and in
relation to New York avenue and Wit
ginia avenue.
It is gratifying to see this suggestion
to distribute these buildings and to
give them surrounding spaces. From
the description 1t can be seen that those
who have the task of final decision re-
garding the design and location of these
buildings viii arrive at satisfactory
results.
This Is being written to make further
suggestion regarding Virginia avenue
that 1t should be extended westward.
The eastern end Of that avenue makes
good connection with b street. That
street Is intended to become q major
thoroughfare connecting Pennsylvania
avenue and the new Memorial Bridge.
Virginia avenue should be extended
westward to Wisconsin avenue near or
at M street in Georgetown, and it
should be made wide and designed for
large traf1c.
When that has been done, all Of the
Evening Star article will have easy
communication toward and from the
regions northward and westward and
southwestward Gin Virginia) Of the
junction Of M street and Wisconsin
avenue. Furthermore, Virginia avenue
and B street will then form an outlet
from the triangle bounded by Pennsyl-
vania avenue, Fifteenth street and B
street. and for trafnc coming from
Fourteenth street south Of B street and
coming on B street from the direction
Of the Capitol. BY that means large
numbers OF people who will be employed
can avoid crossing that congested part
of Pennsylvania avenue.
Then B street and Virginia avenue
will be adapted to relieve, in large meas
ure, the trafdc congestion on Pennsyl-
vania avenue between the Capitol and
the Treasury.
At present Pennsylvania avenue and
M street form the course OF travel be-
tween the vicinity Of the White House
and Georgetown. When virginia ave-
nue. has been treated as suggested, New
York avenue and Virginia avenue will
form o second route between the White
House and Georgetown.
Whatever its new name may be, B
street will be an important thorough
fare IN Washington, rivaling and, per-
haps, excelling Pennsylvania avenue.
It is intended that 3 street shall be-
come the ceremonial street Of the Ma
tional Capital, supplanting historic
Pennsylvania avenue as the street of
state paradeS, funerals and marches.
Being of such dignified nature, there
should be good communication with
that street. Extended and widened Vir-
ginia avenue will be a factor In such
communicati ton.
Extending Virginia avenue will not
require the taking Of highly valuable
property. On the contrary, all this
property Is Of secondary value, and
our National Government Is financially
able to acquire it by purchase or con-
demnation. And, IS is the case regard
ing all similar improvements, the route
should be definitely located by surveys
and steps taken for acquiring right Of
way as early as feasible.
In this connection, It Is well to note
have suf1icient provision for communi-
cation between the interior Of the city
and the surrounding country. WASH
ington lacks good "gateways." It Is
difficult for strangers coming by auto
mobile to ind their way into the city.
And by distribution Of public build
ings and by treating streets to limit
street congestion, the building Of sub
ways may be delayed, let us hope, for
many years.
And may not say that It Il due the
State Of Virginia to bring the present
inferior Virginia avenue to rank with
avenues named for other States?
CYRUS KEER.