Evening star., 1934-02-18
EAST CAPITOL ST.
WIDENING TO Be
STARTED AT ONCE
Planning Commission Acts
in View of Court Build.
ing Progress.
LkNDSCAPING DELAY
WOULD BE AVOIDED
Municipal Stadium Site and End
of Thoroughfare Given Body's
Reaffirmation.

ing nearing completlon, the Natlonal
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion yesterday consented to the i'm
mediate widening Of East Capitol
street between First and Second
streets to enable plans for landscaping
the grounds of that monumental
structure to proceed.
The block, on which the Library of
Congress also faces, is to be made
200 feet wide, an additional width Of
about 20 feet on each side. This is
the first step in plans for widening
East Capitol street for its entire
length to the Eastern Branch over a
period OF years as arrangements are
made for developing and beautifying
the Eastern section of the city. Since
the Government owns the land on
both sides of East Capitol street be-
tween the Library of Congress and
Supreme Court Building, there need
be no delay by reason of condemna-
ton proceedings. The work is to be
done with public works funds.
Contemplating future improvements
in the Eastern section, the Planning
Commission, according to Secretary
T. S. Settle, reafirmed its position in
favor of the end of East Capitol
street as the site for the proposed
municipal stadium. This action was
taken yesterday. it was explained, be-
cause of a. move afoot to have the
stadium located on the upper Six
teenth street reservoir site.
Site Favored for Space.
The commission favors the site on
the Eastern Branch because of the
great space available for parking ia
cilities which the Sixteenth street site
does not provide. Should stadium
be erected in Washington with the
possibility of holding the Army and
Navy foot ball game and other i'm
portant athletic meets, the commits
sion believes strictly residential area
such ss Sixteenth street should be
avoided. The site on the Eastern
Branch, which it recommends, is in
close proximity TO development now
being made in that area.
The commission completed an ex-
haustive schedule of projects and ap-
proved plans of District Commissioner
Hazen for widening and extending
Prospect and Canal streets to improve
traffic conditions in the Georgetown
area. 1t likewise favored the extern
sion of K street to connect with NJ
street. making it thoroughfare to
expedite heavy traffic to Key Bridge
and the Conduit road beyond.
Commissioner Hazen proposed TO
extend Prospect street between Thir-
tieth street and Foxhall road. and
this was approved as being in accord
with major thoroughfare plans and
giving reader access to Georgetown.
The commission did not feel. however,
that it would be very useful as a
high-speed route to downtown Wash
ington. For this reason the commits
sion suggests that Canal street be-
tween the Key Bridge and the Foxhall
road should be widened and improved
as a more favorable speed thor
oughfare. It would be necessary to
straighten Canal street so as to avoid
the steep grade crossing over the
tracks of the Cabin John cars near
the entrance to Foxhall Village.
Congress Action Required.
There is no immediate prospect of
these extensions being authorized, it
was pointed out, because each would
require authority from Congress. The
commission felt the two projects, if
undertaken, should be started simul-
taneously. 1t would entail the acqui-
sition of additional lands.
A recent survey reveals three-fourths
of the traffic using M street goes over
the Key Bridge. Much of this will
be diverted over the Arlington Mem
orial Bridge into Constitution avenue
it was said, when the Lee Boulevard
Is completed. An additional relief to
the traffic congestion could be expect
ed, the commission pointed out, with
the completion of the Rock Greek
Parkway at Twenty-ninth street. M
street and Pennsylvania avenue. This
would give new route into the Po-
tcmac Park area for cars which now
can use the parkway only as far as
street.
The commission approved a plan for
extension of the Anacostia Park road
way west and south to connect with
the road leading to Boiling Field and
the Naval Air Station. 1t would fol-
low along the river. This plan was
accepted in preference to other pro-
posed routes because it would not in
terfere with the location of a future
South Capitol street bridge.
No definite action was taken with
regard to the request Of the Council
OF Social Agencies for survey to be
made with a view to determining a
unified system of recreational activi-
ties in the District of Columbia.
Chairman Frederic A. Delano was
directed to contact with all agencies
using such facilities to see If they are
agreeable to a survey and to report
back to another meeting of the COM
mission.
A report was rendered by John
Nolen, jr., director of planning, on the
progress of the various @. W. A.
projects in the city. and this met with
the full satisfaction of the group.