Evening star., 1940-05-24
Planners 0. K.
Drafts for Two
Traffic Projects
Underposs and Grade
Separation Program
Is Revised

Is Revised
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today ap-
proved preliminary plans thus far
drawn for the proposed Scott Circle
underpass and the grade separation
at Fourteenth street and Maine ave-
nue. SW.
The plans were presented to the
commission by Capt. H. c. White
hurst, director of highways, who has
made important revisions in the
studies since requested to do 50 by
the commission at its April meet
ing.
Thomas S. Settle, commission Sec
retary, said the commission felt the
plans were taking shape according
to its studied viewpoint, but would
have to be subject to further study
by the commission and the Co-ordi-
mating Committee, of which Capt.
Whitehurst is a member.
Mr.. Settle said that if and when
Congress appropriates funds for the
two trafflc-easing projects, detailed
working plans will have to be drawn
and submitted to. the commission
Would Enlarge Reservation.
Principal revision made by Capt.
Whitehurst in the Scott Circle plan,
Mr.. Settle said, had been to insure
that the circle itself and the Daniel
Webster and DR.. Samuel Hahne-
mann memorial park reservation,
which flank it on the east and west,
will not be diminished in size and
have their character destroyed to
solve traffic problems Secretary of
the Interior Ickes and officials of the
National Park Service became per-
turbed recently over the implications
held for the memorial reservations
In Capt. Whitehurst's initial plan.
They appealed to the Senate Ap-
preparations Subcommittee handling
the 1941 District supply bill to
amend the measure to require the
Secretary's stamp of approval on
the underpass plan.
Latest plans. Mr.. Settle said, make
the reservations, and particularly
the circle, even larger than at pres
ent. The circle, under the new
plans, will be underpassed by Six
teenth street and will wind up as
an elipse, 1875 by 120 feet. 1t now is
a circle with a diameter OF 120 feet
Mr.. Settle said the commission to-
day approved that portion of the
Fourteenth and Maine grade separa-
tion which takes Fourteenth street
over the complicated intersections
involving the north and south Tidal
Basin drives, Fifteenth street, Maine
avenue and East Potomac Park drive
from Hains Point. How traffic on
the latter arteries is to be handled
still has to be worked out satisfac-
torily, he said.
Funds in Measure.
Funds for the grade separation
working plans are incorporated in
the 1941 bill. while funds for the
entire Scott Circle project are in
cluded in the bill as it passed the
Senate.
The commission also was sched-
uled to take up plan submitted by
the Georgetown Citizens Associa-
tion for the by-passing of traffic
around Georgetown narrow streets,
plans of the Office of National Capt.
tai Parks to rehabilitate the Francis
Scott Key house in Georgetown and
make of it boathouse serving the
C. & o. Canal Parkway, revised
plans for Identification of the tract
across Fourteenth street NV. from
the Commerce Department, plans
for improving the view of the JEFF
ferson Memorial from the Mall,
plans to extend transit service to
new Government buildings in the
Southwest section, additional pur-
chases for the George Washington
Memorial Parkway between the Dis
trict line and Great Falls, plans for
a bridge across Rock Creek between
Chevy Chase and Kensington, Md,
several requests to rezone property
along Washington street in Alex
andria, plans of the Capital Transit
Co. for the streetcar terminal build
ing at Barney Circle, western ter
minus of the new Sousa Memorial
Bridge, and plans for the further
development of Washington's recre-
alton system.
Fieldhouses Considered.
Included in the latter are plans to
include fleldhouse facilities in the
basement of the Rudolph School,
plans for the improvement of Lang
don Park, including fieldhouse
there; and plans for increasing the
number of tennis courts and base
ball diamonds throughout the city.
Yesterday afternoon the planners
made a tour of some of the locali-
ties coming up for study at the
meeting. They touched at the new
Washington Airport and then sur
veyed building development along
the Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway
near Alexandria, and touched at Key
Bridge, where plans may ultimately
call for a plaza at the M street
terminus and that section of Massa-
chusetts avenue it is proposed to
widen.