Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-12
monroe OVERPASS
| PLAN OF D. c. NOW
Favor Planning Commission
Scheme for Michigan Ave-
nue. as Later Step.

the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and
construction at the same time of via
duct to eliminate the Michigan avenue
grade crossing, q short distance away,
II undertaken at the same time, might
mean an increase in the Districts
tax rate or the taking away OF money
from projects already arranged for, i'll
the opinion of Daniel J. Donovan, au-
ditor and budget ofncer for the District
of Columbia.
Wide public interest has been gener-
ated, particularly in the Northeast Sec
ton, in the elimination of the dangerous
Michigan avenue grade crossing, and
now pending in Congress before the
House appropriations committee for in
corporation in the District appropriation
bill, which is expected to be reported
on the floor about the middle Of the
month, Is an item for $145, 900, suggest
ed in the Bureau Of the Budget eSt:-
mates, designed to improve the Monroe
street overpaSs and close forever" the
Michigan avenue grade crossing. This
proposed closing is meeting with siren
uous opposition from interested citizens.
led by the Michigan Park Citizens
Association.
District Ready TO Begin Work.
In keeping with plans which the Blu
reau OF the Budget has approved and
which the House appropriations COM
mittee is expected to incorporate into
the District supply measure, the District
government Is ready to proceed, as soon
as funds are available, with the widen
ing of the Monroe street overpaSs and
the approaches to it.
Mr.. Donovan explained to The Star
that the estimated 500, 900 which is
the cost for the improvement of Michi-
gan avenue would mean an in
crease in the tax rate. The budget now
pending In Congress. he said, uses up
all the surplus revenue that has been
accumulated for the past couple of
years, amounting to about So, 100000.
In the beginning of the fiscal year
1891, for which Congress Is now pre-
pairing, the surplus will be $4,000, 900.
The budget in Congress uses ND $780,
600 of this, Mr.. Donovan said.
The Police and Fire Department SAL
airy increase bill, now pending in Con-
gress, including increases In pensions.
VIII entail the expenditure of 5000, 600,
Mr.. Donovan asserted, and this legiSla-
ton Is considered very likely to become
law. This will mean that between
5000 900 and 100000 Of the surplus
will be left, he said.
Airport Project Cited.
If the airport bill goes through, as
also seems likely, Mr.. Donovan pointed
out, the reimbursement of the District
to the Federal fund for the acquisition
OF the land for the municipal airport
would entirely wipe out the whole sur
plus. The District would then be de-
pendent solely on the present tax rate
except for the $1,000 900 lump sum ap-
preparation given as the Federal Gov
ernment's contribution to the eity's rs
cal program. The present tax rate is
$40, and IN 1891 all the surplus reVe-
nues Will be used up, Mr.. Donovan ex-
plains. The District will require the
$l.T0 tax rate, plus the surplus to. meet
the obligations In the fiscal year 1881
Anything added to that would mean All
increase In the tax rate, he said.
1t would not be possible to take care
or 100000 more at this time, unless
money were taken away from projects
already provided for or the tax rate
were increased to meet this additional
expenditure OF funds.
Status Of Monroe Street.
Monroe street Is in public ownership
out 70 Rhode Island avenue, Melvin C..
Hazen, the surveyor of the District of
Columbia explained. in giving his views
OF the problem. There are about 900
feet from Michigan avenue to Rhode
Island avenue In the straight line of
Monroe street. A widened and i'm
proved Monroe street and overpass
would better serve all of Brookland,
West Woodbridge and the various other
communities in that area. as well as the
contiguous part of Maryland Mr.. Hazen
asserted. Monroe street Is q direct
thoroughfare to PhOde Island avenue
and the northeast, and that section is
All 1ullt up. the surveyor pointed out.
ThlS Is 9 marked contrast with the
area served by Michigan avenue, Mr..
HAGEN asserted, inviting attention to the
point that practically all the property
north Of Michigan avenue is unde-
veloped, with the exception of one sub
Observation-Disclosures Park-and many of
the streets In that area are not even de-
veloped as yet.
Everyone will admit that Monroe
street Is dangerous at the OverpaSs and
ought to be reconstructed beyond any
question, Mr.. Hazen commended, adding
That this work In no way eliminates the
placing OF viaduct at Michigan avenue
Chased as Immediate Necessity"
AS an immediate necessity, we think
Monroe street Is the more important at
this time" Mr.. Hazen said, pointing out
tnat the Monroe street project will cost
put half as much as the Michigan ave-
nue. program, and Is the more ecOnom-
The urgency for repairing Monroe
street and constructing an adequate and
SAFE overpass at that point, Mr. HaEen
SAID arises by reason of Its popularity
as thoroughfare to Baltimore, and Il
Is likewise the route to Annapolis. over
the Defense Highway.
Mr.. Hazen explained that an overpass
az Michigan avenue would require an
o12 per cent grade to get over the rail-
road tracks, which Is rather steep. and
while the plan of the National CAPITAL
PARK and Planning Commission for a
Strengthened Michigan avenue would
permit OF an easier grade, 1t would still
be rather steep.
Monroe street is now q 27-foot road
way, the District surveyor pointed out.
and 1t Is proposed to make 1t so feet
over all-including the sidewalks. At
IenCn and Monroe Streets by the acqui-
Sltlon OF q small trianRe at the north
west corner the elimination of the right
angle turn would be feasible. at little
cost, and this 1t Is proposed to do. Mr..
Haxen asserted. The Monroe street i'm
proVemenC. the surveyor asserted, would
not damage any OF the houses or i'm
prOvements, while the Michigan avenue
development would destroy lot Of i'm
portant property.
Easy Grade b FOreseon.
The new overpass at Monroe street.
Mr.. Hazen declared, will eliminate the
present hump" and form an easy
grade.
While all interested parties are agreed
that the Michigan avenue grade cross
ing should be eliminated as a menace
the rub comes In considering Just when
this should be done and how it should |
be done. Shall 1t be by barricading the !
grade crossing at the tracks and deflect- |
ing trafic around by way of Monroe
street and Tenth street on to Michjgan
aualaLIA aGaix,: h.. |