Evening star., 1934-06-12
HOUSE MEMBER
MOVES TO BLOCK
CAR LINE CHANGE
Britten AsSaiIS Petition to
Operate Vehicles on TAFT
Bridge.
PROPOSED REROUTING
OPPOSED BY ENGINEERS
Traffic "Bottle Neck" Would Be
Created by Narrowness of
Span, They Say.

A resolution designed TO block plans
of the Capital Transit Co. to reroute
its Connecticut avenue car line over
Taft Bridge was introduced today by
Representative Britten, Republican, of
Illinois.
The resolution specifically forbids
the Public Utilities Commission acting
favorably on the transit company's
application for change in route until
the rerouting Is authorized by the
House.
The rerouting of street cars over
the bridge, the resolution declared,
would destroy one of Washington's
most beautiful landmarks from "its
present fine architectural and
aesthetic proportions" and make an
already over-congested roadway the
most dangerous traffic center in
Washington
Attack on Rights.
The resolution further declared
there is no passenger or mechanical
demand to Justify this attack on the
rights and sensibilities of the people
of Washington"
Even before Britten's action, it had
been indicated that District engineers
would disapprove the plan.
Engineers interested in the proposal
declined to make any official state
ment, but expressed fear that a real
traffic bottle neck" would be created
at the Taft Bridge if the proposed
rerouting were placed in effect.
Informed officials pointed out the
Taft Bridge now has a roadway of
but 35 feet and that if a foot and a
half of space were Topped of the
Sidewalk on either side there would
remain only room enough for one
passenger automobile on the roadways
on either side of double car tracks.
Plan to Widen Bridge.
Proponents of the plan point to
tentative plans for widening of the
Taft Bridge from the ground up.
Highway officials have scheduled such
an improvement for consideration
some four or five years in the future
and estimate the cost would be about
100000. They say, however, there
is no assurance the bridge widening
program will meet with congressional
approval or that financial conditions
four or five years hence will permit
such an expenditure.
The question has been raised as to
whether the Taft Bridge is strong
enough to stand the weight of loaded
street cars For this reason engineer
officials have ordered technical study
of this matter. One engineer said the
bridge is strong enough, although the
heavy masonry structure has an earth
filling. The only question, this official
said. is what structural alterations
would have to be made to provide for
the street car load.
No Need Is Seen.
The main question in the minds of
Distrist officials is whether there is
sufficient reason for planning street
car traffic over Taft Bridge when the
new Calvert Street Bridge, nearby, is
designed for street car traffic. These
plans call for an underground trolley
system, whereas the car company pro-
poses overhead power lines on Taft
Bridge.
1t was revealed today that some
thought is being given to more ex-
tensive use of busses instead of street
cars along Connecticut avenue. This
matter is being studied by engineers
of both the Public Utilities Commits
sion and the car company. While
there is a suggestion that street cars
there might be supplanted entirely by
buses, one utilities commission Off
cial questions whether that would be
feasible.
This suggestion came to mind be-
cause the Utilities Commission is con-
sidering ordering the car company to
replace a stretch of track along Con-
necticut avenue from Calvert street
to Woodley road, the cost of which
would run to about 100000.
Changes Ordered.
The commission yesterday ordered
three changes in routing and sched-
ule to improve transportation service.
The Capital Transit Co. was directed
to establish four-minute schedule
of cars on Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween Rosslyn and Seventeenth street
southeast.
During rush hours a 15-minute
schedule, instead of the present half
hour schedule, is to be placed into
effect on the Foxhall Village bus
route. During these hours the termi-
nus Of the busses will be at Thirty
fifth street and Reservoir road, where
there will be a connection with the
Burleith- Trinidad line. The Foxhan
busses will run to Tenth and E streets
instead of Seventeenth and H streets.
During their morning rush hours,
buses of the Washington Rapid
Transit Co. will turn of Pennsylvania
avenue at Ninth street to 90 to Con-
stitution avenue and then north on
Twelfth street. This is to avoid the
U-turn at the end of the route south
bound During non-rush hour periods,
busses will follow the present route.