Evening star., 1937-04-11
AVENUEEXTENS|0N
SOUGHT BY GROUP
KenilWorth Citizens Make
Recommendation After
Committee Study.

The Kenilworth Citizens Associa-
tion will seek the immediate extension
of New York avenue to Eastern avenue
to relieve the severe traffic congestion
at Fifteenth and H streets northeast,
John Webb, president, announced yes
terday after his Parking and Planning
Committee completed study OF trafic
conditions in this area.
A committee, headed by Samuel K.
Murphy, reported that the extension
also would relieve to some extent
severe traffic congestion and hazard
at the Peace Cross, Bladensburg, Md.
When the survey was conducted the
committee made a study of the extern
sion of three streets, which at one
time or another have been recon-
mended by civic organizations in the
northeast. The streets-Maryland
avenue, New York avenue and M
street-all of which would have to
have bridge across the Anacostia
River before they could be extended
to Kenilworth.
Would Aid Other Sections.
In order that the project might
receive the Endorsement and support
of other communities and the city
authorities the committee felt that the
street extended would necessarily serve
other communities besides Kenilworth
and must definitely fit in with the
planned comprehensive system of per-
manent highways and traffic arteries
for Washington and vicinity.
So in making the selection of New
York avenue the committee studied
four problems-hrst, which would be
the greatest relief to present traffic
conditions; second, which would open
up the greatest area suitable for resi-
dence; third, direct approach to
other sections of the city from Kenil-
worth and, fourth, which project
would benefit the greatest number OF
people and which therefore would re-
ceive the most Endorsement and sup
port from other communities.
The committee, when it decided on
New York avenue, made the following
comparisons:
Opens Up Large Area.
AS regards to the greatest area to
be opened up for residential purposes
there can be no doubt that the extern
sion Of New York avenue would be
more effective than any other. M
street continued would extend to Dean
wood and Burrville, D. c., communi-
ties which are already built up and
populated. Maryland avenue will
probably never extend east of the
Anacostia River because a diagonal
crossing of the river would be too
costly in proportion to the number OF
people that would be served
New York avenue would afford resi-
dents OF this area direct approach
to the extreme northeast and certain
sections Of the northwest Extension
OF M street would lead to the city by
nearly the same route now travelled
while Maryland avenue would lead
back to the gateway now in use,
namely Fifteenth and H streets. AS
Q second approach to the city, Mary
land avenue would serve no useful
purpose to people living in this area.
The committee pointed out that
several Maryland communities have
already indorsed and urged the ex-
tension Of New York avenue, in addi-
ton to many citizens associations OF
the northeast and the Conference OF
the Northeast Citizens Association is
on record favoring the project 1t is also
believed that the Federal Government
would be interested since New York
avenue would bring a little nearer the
realization Of the Arboretum.