Evening star., 1938-06-28

and the commission reiterated its for
mer position. This month the COM
mission confirmed its action and said
it had no further statement to make.
The plans for the circles also have
been approved by the Fine Arts Com
mission as part of the highway plan.
That program has been Endorsed by
the Washington Board Of Trade, the
Keystone and American Automobile
Associations and in general by this
association"
Capt. Whitehurst said that the Dis
trict Commissioners do not want to
take any action the people of the Dis
trict do not want" but said that from
the stacks of correspondence" received
with reference to the Thomas Circle
project, "it is the belief of the Com
missioners that the people OF the Dis
trict do want this project"
He explained that the entering road
ways at Thomas Circle are wider than
the roadways around the circle and
that after careful study District on
cials came to the conclusion that the
only means of overcoming congestion
was by means of grade separation. :"
He denied there was any intention of
widening Massachusetts, avenue except
where necessary to accommodate the
underpass, between Thirteenth and
Fifteenth streets
Sees Need Of Remedy.
washington, in the matter of treat
ing its traffic problem, has been back
ward. mainly because of a desire not
70 change the existing landscape" :"
Capt Whitehurst said. If we want
to relieve congestion and increase
safety we have got to meet the situa-
tion as 1t exists. While deplore the
loss OF trees as much as any one, I
DO not see any other solution"
The underpass, Capt. Whitehurst
said, would take at least IS per cent
of the present traffic out of Thomas
Circle and would practically take
away the present congestion"
In response to a cross-fire of Ques-
tioning from association members
Capt. Whitehurst declared that the
Thomas Circle project is not an ex-
pertinent "in my mind, because there
is nothing sounder than a grade sep
aration." He admitted that the
Thomas Circle project would not at
tain its ultimate effect without SIM
ilar treatment OF adjoining circles and
declared that the District must have
faith in Congress to see the plan
through" The master plan" for
Massachusetts, avenue, he explained,
contemplates grade separations At the
circles and surface rearrangement
with a possible grade separation at
Mount Vernon Square. He said the
proposed underpass plan was de-
signed Ito do the least possible DAM
age" but admitted there are II curb
line trees in the area affected which
would be destroyed.
Van Duxer Estimates Speed -Up.
Mr.. Van Duzer told the association
that the underpass might increase the
traffic capacity of Thomas Circle from
$4,000 to as much. rs 100000 vehicles
per day.
Mr.. Driscoll said that the effect of
the project upon adjoining property
and the beauty of the city must be
considered and declared that when the
association approved the plan earlier
I'VE bad no idea that it would in
volve the widening Of Massa achusetts
avenue and the cutting of trees" He
voiced the belief that complete elm
ination Of parking along downtown
streets would obviate much Of the
need for street widenings or under
passes" "
Mr.. Driscon suggested that the prof.
ect be delayed until We can deter
mine the fate OF suggested bypass
highway construction around WASH
ington which would take lot Of traf-
nc out of the city
Finnan Sees Sacrifice.
Mr.. Finnan told the association HIT
while the Thomas Circle prod 3oct
'niNht &c..