Evening star., 1938-03-12
PLANNERS TO SCAN
DISTRICT TRAFFIC
CONDITIONS TODAY.
w. A. DeIano Heads Group
to Study Problems at
First Hand.
Definite SUGGESTIONS
TO SOLVE ILLS SOUGHT
Commerce Bureau Asked to Defer
Action on Radio Station on
Mount Vernon Road.

William A. Delano, prominent New
York architect and member of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. today arranged to study
Washingtons tangled traffic problem
first hand, with a view to making
more definite recommendations at the
April meeting of the body.
Invited to participate in the close
up of the traffic situation were Fred
eric A. Delano, chairman of the COM
mission; John Nolen, jr., it's director
of planning, and William A. Van
Duzer, District traffic director. The
group did not announc. a time and
place for the study, preferring to
observe Washington's traffic in it's
normal Saturday rush. Col. Dan 1.
Sultan, Engineer Commissioner, who
is an ex-ofticio member of the PLAN
ners, arranged to be represented in
the survey.
Out of this first-hand study the plan
ners hope to write definite recommen-
dations for the amelioration of condi-
tions in the National Capital. William
A. Delano for the last few months
has headed a special committee of
the planners that studied the traffic
situation and submitted preliminary
report at the commissions meeting
yesterday afternoon He arranged to
stay over today to make his inveStiga-
ton in the company of the other
officials.
Radio Delay Asked.
The commission asked the Depart
ment of Commerce to defer its plan
to erect radio range station along
the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway,
between Four Mile Run and Alexandria,
after representative appeared before
the planners and explained the pro-
posal. Chairman Delano and Arno b
Cammerer, director of the National
Park Service, who is also executive Of
ficer of the Planning Commission, will
form special committee to study this
problem first-hand, probably during
the coming week.
Final action was taken in approving
the closing of Lincoln road, through
A1blAty SOllS6Sy l1Oul ollhllll SllNCI
to Michigan avenue NE. The plan
ners also approved the transfer of
small strip of federally owned land
in the vicinity of the Apex Building to
the District government so that side
walk may be constructed there. A
small piece of land will be trans
ferred from the District Commissioners
to the National Capital Parks Office
in the region of the Francis Junior
High School, following approval by
the planners.
Settle Explains Status.
Thomas S. Settle, the commissions
secretary, explained the status of leg
islation pertaining to the George
Washington Memorial Parkway, which
is to be constructed on both sides of
the Potomac River, from Great Falls
to Fort Washington, Md, after Mr..
Nolen had told his colleagues about
the present situation relating to land
purchases and surveys, as we'll as de-
Mr.. Settle declared that
the Virginia House has passed the
S50,000 appropriation as the States |
share of purchasing land for the |
parkway and that the Virginia Senate |
Finance Committee has favorably re-
ported the measure. Under the pres |
ent program Virginia would contribute
S5O,000, Fairfax and Arlington Coun-
ties and interested citizens would con-
tribute $50,000, and this 100000
would be matched with a like sum
from the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, as the agent
of the Federal Government. This
money would be used to purchase land
upstream of Key Bridge.
Mr.. Settle also advised the commits
sion that the Virginia Legislature has
passed the county zoning bill, which
would enable Fairfax County to insti-
tute coming such as Arlington County
now has. This measure is now pend
ing before the Governor In similar
status. Mr.. Settle said, is a billboard
measure, which would prohibit bill
boards within 500 feet of the Mount
Vernon Memorial Highway or Shen-
andoah National Park-among other
things. The planners are likewise in
terested in measure in Virginia that
would authorize Alexandria, Va, to
in the Federal Govern
ment's new low-cost housing program,
Mr.. Settle declared.