Evening star., 1940-01-14

tranSportation-a new and splendid
gateway to the Nations Capital.
The new decade finds Washing
tons railway facilities in excellent
condition. Electrification, adoption
Of fast, modern DieSel-electric
equipment and rolling stock, and
improvements in rights of way and
roadbeds have added greatly to the
efficiency, speed and cleanliness of
operation.
Serious consideration now is being
given to construction of a railway
tunnel under the Potomac River in
the vicinity of the present Railroad
Bridge. Such a tube is held by
engineers and military authorities
to be essential to national security
in case of military emergency. A
single bomb dropped by an airplane
or planted by saboteur would be
sufflclent to wreck this bridge, they
point out, and so cut off all rail COM
munication between the North and
the South east of the Alleghenies
Many variations of the tunnel idea
have been advanced, including one
that would combine a tube for trains
with a new bridge for other traffic
Needs for Memorial.
Completion of the jefferson
Memorial on the Tidal Basin also
Is expected to result in increasing
the pressure for removal of the high
railroad embankment between Vir-
yoio rityo iol,
dominates the whole area Con-
struction of the Potomac tunnel
may be considered the most impor-
tant prospective change, so far as
the railroads are concerned locally,
during the coming decade. There
have been other improvements in
rail rights of way in the District
and vicinity, including the elimina-
ton of several particularly danger
Gus grade crossings, during the past
decade, and similar work is ex-
pected to continue.
The opening of the decade finds
work well advanced on a new bus
terminal on the site of the old
Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis
Electric Railway station at New
York avenue and Eleventh street
NV. This beautiful, modern ter
minal will serve the interstate
buses which now operate from an
inadequate station at Fourteenth
street and New York avenue NV
The new stone and granite building,
being erected at an estimated cost
of $275,0 900, will be the most elabo-
rate bus terminal in Washington.
y It will have large 21a story wait
ing room decorated with murals de-
picting American scenery and also
will house company offices, stores
and shops. The latest system for
dispatching and handling motor
coaches is being installed.
All forms of highway transporta-
ton will benefit from the great new
motor parkway and highway prof.
ects now in process or being planned
for future construction in and
around the District. Plans are far
advanced for construction of mo-
tor parkway, similar to Mount Ver-
non Highway, between Washington
and Baltimore, entering the Dis
trict by way of the Anacostia River
valley and park.
Relief of Congestion.
This beautiful parkway, free from
grade crossings, traffic bottlenecks
and unsightly surroundings, would
handle the majority of the private
motor vehicle traffic between the
two cities. This would relieve much
of the congestion on the present
United States No. l route, which
could more adequately, safely and
efficiently handle truck and COM
mercial traffic.
The State of Maryland, with the
cooperation of the Federal Govern
ment, now is constructing or plan
ming extensive highway projects
which will benefit the Greater
Washington area. Because the Dis
trict is geographically located with
in the original limits of Maryland
and connected by only three high
way bridges with Virginia, Wash
ingtonianS and motorists visiting
the Capital are dependent upon
Maryland roads. 1t has been esti-
mated that 70 per cent of the popu-
lation of the United States is so
located that it must pass through
Maryland to get to Washington, &C
cording to the Maryland State
Roads Commission.
One of the major Maryland roac
projects now under way is new ma
tional North-South highway which
will bypass both Baltimore anc
Washington congested areas. This
project will include three major
bridges-a new bridge across the
Susquehanna River, a bypass via E
bridge over Cor a tunnel under) the
Patapsco River in Baltimore and the
bridge now being constructed across
the Potomac from LudloWs Ferry
Md, to Dahlgren. Va.
The National Capital Park anC
Planning Commission, the Commits.
sion of Fine Arts, the Public Road;
Administration and other agencie!
are giving serious consideration to {
program involving construction O.
motor parkways entering the Capita
1lOlll I'LL CSVlOllo. 1llCoC WOUlO
ternate with highways to carr!
heavy bus, truck and commercial
traffic More detailed consideration
will be given to some of these pro-
posed parkways in subsequent ar
ticleS in this series.
There has been considerable dis
cussion of subways for Washington
but nothing sufficiently concrete ha
been proposed to warrant predic
ton that any actual steps towart
their construction will be undertaken
even during so long a period as II
years. Building and maintenance O
= supways in downtown Washington
would be difficult and costly, since, il
most of the area, they would be be-
meath the level of ground water.
Railway Abandonment.
Mapv street rai1Uav lines haVt