Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-20
RAIL WAY OVERPASS
IS AGAIN ENDORSED
BrookIand Citizens Want
Grade Crossing Eliminated
From Michigan Avenue.

The Brookland Citizens Association
Is in favor OF the elimination of the
dangerous Michigan avenue grade
crossing by the construction of a
suitable overpaSs arching the tracks of
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Marvin
NJ. Mclean, the associations president,
told The Star today. He made it plain,
however, that his organization consid-
erS that the Monroe street viaduct
should be widened, a short distance
from the grade crossing to get rid OF
q hazardous traffic condition there.
MI. Mclean and his organization want
action in favor of the Monroe street
Improvement now, not only because
e has q good chance of being passed
by Congress, as provided for in an
item in the pending District appropria-
Cion bill. but because the Monroe
Street Bridge is dangerous and narrow.
This improvement the president in
sisted, is needed now, entirely apart
from the Michigan avenue grade cross
ing proposal.
The president of the Brookland Citi-
ems Association pointed out that the
proposed law, authorizing $l35,00O as
the total cost for the construction OF
the Monroe street overpass and needed
improvements would be distributed as
follows: One-fourth to be borne by
the washington Railway & Electric
Co., whose tracks cross the viaduct;
one-half by the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad Co. whose tracks pass be-
meath it, and the other quarter by the
District government 1t is not eX-
pected that there will be any assess
ment against the interested property
owners, he said
Acted After Study.
The action of the Brookland group
its president said, Is the result OF studies
of Capt. H. C. Whitehurst. CHIEF engl-
neer and co-ordinat0r of the Engineer
ing Department of the District govern
ment, and engineers in the DISTRICT
Building, and their program has the
Endorsement of himself and his asso-
ciates. because it is considered prac-
ticable, feasible project to take care
Of traffic and make 1t safer and easier
The association has gone on record
rs favoring the widening OF Monroe
street viaduct and the widening OF
Monroe street itself to Tenth street to
make traf1ic safer, Mr.. Mclean said.
I'VE also went on record unanimously
opposing the closing of the grade cross
ing at Michigan avenue and 1avorme
the building of an overpaSs as soon as
possible" Mr.. Mclean said. We reel
however, that the Monroe Street Bridge
should not wait for the enactment OF
the other legislation. The danger OF the
narrow Monroe Street Bridge Is very
great. A number Of serious accidents
have occurred there. There has been
one death at Michigan avenue crossing
and a number of accidents. Both STU
atoms are very dangerous, and the DAN
ger should be removed. The widening
of Monroe street Is very important tc
the whole Northeast section, as 1t takes
care of traffic going to Baltimore ano
10 other points in Maryland.
Wants Property Protected.
eff and when the overhead pass ovel
Michigan avenue Is constructed, care
fIIl study should be given to the plans
80 that as little damage as possible may
be caused to the buildings and grounds
of the Catholic University Of America
There are several million dollars In
vested In this institution. and, while Il
has made wonderful strides In recent
years, It Is just beginning to grow anc
develop. Nothing should be done TO IN
jure 1t.
"The cost of this overhead bridge
and the necessary land 10 De con-
demned for a new street has been eSti-
mated at not less than $500 900 by the
engineers Of the District Building, who
have made a careful estimate OF the
proposed project. Consideration should
be given as to who is to bear this
burden in addition to the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad. Some plan should be
worked out whereby too much of the
cost of condemning the land for q
new street would not be assessed
against adjoining and nearby property
owners"
Mr.. Mclean refers to q study Of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission to straighten Michigan
avenue at the grade crossing. little
TO the north Of the present line Of
the street, and construct an overpass in
this realigned thoroughfare.