Evening star., 1938-01-07
K STREET BRIDGE
PLANS HALTED BY
GASTAXD|VERS|ON
Separation Span at Park
way Was Sought to End
Traffic Congestion.
STREET LIGHT COSTS
TAKEN FROM ROAD FUND
Project Was to Be Linked to Key
Bridge to Serve as George
town Bypass.
BY DON S. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
Plans carefully prepared by District
officials for construction of . modern
grade separation bridge at K street
and Rock Greek and Potomac Park
way have been set aside by the Budget
Bureau due to its proposal to divert
$765, 900 Of the special highway funds
to pay the cost of street lighting, it
was revealed today. ..
This project and a variety of mis-
cellaneous street paving and other
improvements were cut from the esti-
mates Of the Commissioners when the
Federal bureau determined to trans
fer the street lighting costs from gen.
erAl revenues to the special gasoline
tax and motor vehicle funds, it was
learned.
It is expected the X street grade
separation bridge will be reviewed by
congressional appropriation commit
tees In connection with study of the
suggested diversion Of highway funds.
District officials generally are pre-
pared to oppose the diversion plan, if
given an opportunity.
Traffic Congestion.
Since the opening of the Rock Greek
and Potomac Parkway there has been
serious traff1c congestion at its inter-
section with K street. An old two
lane bridge now carries traffic over
Rock Greek at this point.
The cost of the requirements of this
inadequate span and the construction
of the grade separation structure is
estimated at $4,000. District engi-
neers proposed construction of one
structure to serve both purposes.
Further, the project is planned 50
that 1t could be used as start on
the proposed construction Of an ele-
vated highway over K street which
would be tied with Key Bridge, to
serve - 4 bypass for Georgetown.
This larger project has been post
poned for several years, however
The proposed grade separation prof.
ect, however, IS regarded at the Dis
trict Building as being needed now to
relieve trafnc congestion both at the
parkway drive intersection and in
Georgetown. The new crossing for
Rock Creek would have four lanes,
plus two ramps which would permit
access to the surface drives in Poto-
mac Park.
"Clover Leaf" System.
At the eastern end of the proposed
span, K street trafic would be carried
over that on the Rock Greek and Poto-
mac drive. There would be developed
4 modern clover-leaf system OF ramps
50 IS to avoid trafdc tangles on the
bridge.
Since construction of this project
would require at least six months after
contract was awarded, the shelving of
the plan 1T the Budget Bureau Is re-
garded At the District Building as q
serious blow. It is offered as one rea-
son against diversion Of the special
highway funds for general District
government services.
Disapproval Of diversion Of highway
funds was voiced meanwhile by En-
gineer Commissioner Dan I. Sultan.
S765,o0o Item.
The street lightning item for the
next fiscal year amounts to $765, 900.
Other District officials have termed
the proposed shift in the bill for street
lighting . clear case of diversion Of
the revenues collected from motorists.
Meanwhile, other members Of the
Board Of Commissioners voiced objec-
tion to cuts made in the District esti-
mates by the Budget Bureau. While
not discussing any individual items,
Commissioner Melvin G. Hazen said
he was greatly disappointed" by the
action Of the Budget Bureau in cut
ting the Commissioners estimates by
about 100000.
Wants Own Budget Machinery.
''The Budget Bureau is an unneces-
sary NTH wheel in municipal affairs"
said Mr.. Hazen II approve the rec
ommendation Of the Prettyman Com
mittee on Enciency in the District
Government that We should have our
own separate budget making ma
ehinery."<
The Prettyman committee recon-
nnended that the District be freed from
domination by the Budget Bureau and
that the Commissioners be permitted
to submit District estimates directly to
Congress.
Commissioner George r. Allen said
he was always disappointed" when
thu Budget Bureau disregarded appro-
pFiAtion requests prepared by the
Commissioners after careful study OF
estimates Of District department ex-
ec1ltives.
Col Sultan declined to discuss any
specific action Of the Budget Bureau
other than to object to the proposed
diversion Of gasoline tax and highway
revenues to pay the cost Of street
lighting.