Evening star., 1937-04-08
Traffic Across Rock Greek.

District appropriation bill for the prepa-
ration of preliminary plans for new
arterial routes across Rock Creek Park
on east and west lines. The reason
advanced for such possible improve
ment" is that transverse traffic has so
greatly increased of late that additional
facilities must be provided to accom-
modate it. The plan in the minds of
those proposing this additional traffic
accommodation is to cross the park with
fills" to permit the extension of roads
at grade across the valley. Disapproval
of such a project has been expressed in
strong terms by officials of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
and by the director of the District High
way Department. 1t is urged that If
there is need for additional transverse
accommodations the preferred method
should be by the construction of bridges
rather than by earthen fills.
1t may be questioned whether there is
such heavy volume of east and west
traffic across the park to warrant such
a ruinous method Of highway construc-
ton. 1t would cut the park into several
sections, isolated from one another save
by the provision of tunnels here and
there along the line of existing park
driveways. Not only would the beauty
of the park be seriously impaired, but
it would cease to be, as now, feature OF
the National Capital that has no equal.
Rock Creek Park has been regarded
as one of the most attractive public res
ervations to be found anywhere in the
world in close conjunction with a large
center of population. It's development
consisted simply of the provision of such
drives and walks as would give the fullest
access to all parts of it with the least
degree of destruction of the natural
beauties of the area A series of earthen
embankments crossing the park from
east to west would reduce it to a series
of small parks and would, moreover,
invite further trespass in the years to
come as highway traffic increases.
The natural flow of traffic in the District
is toward and from the center of the city.
The daily movement in the area affected
by this proposal is generally north and
south. Transverse traffic is compara-
lively light and during the busy hours
OF the day is mostly for the making of
short cuts. 1t may be seriously ques-
toned whether there is any urgent coca
sion for the provision of these means of
east-west travel on the scale proposed.
II, however, it should be demonstrated
that this transverse traffic requires
greater accommodation assuredly the
best means OF providing it is by the erec-
ton of bridges, even though the cost may
be greater than that Of earthen fills,
though that, indeed, is doubted. The i'll
effect of the solid embankment type of
viaduct is now to be seen at the point
where Massachusetts, avenue crosses
Rock Creek. That thoroughfare was
carried over on an earthen fill with
merely narrow tunnel provided for
the flow Of the creek and roadway
alongside. It is now dangerous bottle
neck in the park drive, and It's correction
If undertaken would be very costly. Just
such condition would result from q
carrying out of the embankment plan
as now proposed for several lines Of
park crossing for vehicular traf1c. Those
who favor the solid dixie plan. .for carry
ing the streets across the park have
only to observe the condition at the
Massachusetts avenue crossing to realize
the lamentable effect of a series of such
barriers to park travel and such tres
passes upon the park space which is
dedicated to the pleasure OF the people.