Evening star., 1941-05-23
Shuttle Trains
To Nearby Area
eConsidered
Virginia Traffic Jam
Hearings Closed by
House Committee
BY J. A. OIEARY.


Possibility of relieving traffic con-
gestion on the bridges to Virginia by
establishing shuttle train service
over the railroad bridge for commut-
ing employees was explored today by
a House Committee as an alterna-
tive to building a tunnel or another
bridge.
Put forward originally by Rep
resentative Bishop of Illinois, the
train suggestion was taken up for
further questioning by Chairman
Lanham of the Public Buildings and
Grounds Committee Mr.. Lanham
also inquired if ferry boat service
would be feasible.
Col. P. M. Anderson. a consulting
engineer and architect. who was pre-
Sentlng a plan for combination
bridge and tunnel. doubted the prac-
ticability of the train-service solu-
ton. AT the same time, Representa-
tive Smith of Virginia told the COM
mittee ferry boats once ran between
Alexandria and Washington but
without success.
Train Operating Now.
P. A Rice of the Richmond
Fredericksburg e. Potomac Railroad
said there is train operating now
from Alexandria every morning,
stopping at the Seventh street S.W,
station. So far as he knew. there
has been no heavy traffic on il.
The railroad, he testified. has no
objection to the pending bill. au-
thorlzlng S25,000 for a survey of
the need for additional bridge or
tunnel facilities across the Potomac.
but would like to be consulted when
the studies are made.
Representative McGregor of Ohio
suggested that. with world condj-
tions as they are. Congress should
concentrate on building battleshjps
rather than such a tunnel.
The hearings were brought 10
close today, and Chairman Lam
ham announced the committee
would take the whole problem under
AMUSEMENT after the testimony is
printed.
Defense Aspects Investigated,
Mr.. Lanham asked Col. w. ].
Barden, War Department engineer
for this area. the effect on national
defense of the existence of only
one railroad bridge across the Po-
tomac at Washington.
Col. Barden said he was not ALL.
thorized by the War Department
to speak on the national defense as
poets Of the bridge situation but
that it is common knowledge any
damage to the single railroad
bridge would be very serious"
Mr.. Rice told Chairman Lanhan
he believed railroad men also have
considered the relationship of this
bill to defense but expressed be-
lief that even if service over that
bridge were interrupted goods
could be moved between North and
South through Norfolk to Cape
Charles and through Harpers Ferry.
Col. Anderson explained in detail
the plans he prepared a number of
years ago for combination bridge
and tunnel, which, he estimated,
would cost Sl8.500.00O. He said it
would remove the traffic bottleneck
at Fourteenth street and Maine ave.
nue. by creating a circle there. and
building six-lane bridge across
the river from East Potomac Park,
several hundred feet from the pres
ent railroad bridge. The proposed
tunnel would carry two tracks.
f1anked by two lanes for motor
trucks.
No Support in 1929.
Col. Anderson said he presented
his plans to the Washington Board
of Trade in 1929. The board. he
said, did not indorse it because such
action might be interpreted as max
ing the plan a District project,
whereas it was felt such an UNDER
taking should be a Federal project.
Chairman Lanham asked Col.
Barden for his opinion of the rela-
tive vulnerability of bridges and
tunnels to attack in time of war.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, District
highway engineer, testified yester.
day experts do not agree. and that
some contend tunnels would be cas-
ier to disable.
Col. Barden said he did not know.
but that his off-hand personal i'm
preston is that a bridge would be
more vulnerable.
The Interior Department asked
the committee today to require ap-
proVal by that department of anv
project that may be authorized.
taking the position that wherever
a new bridge or tunnel is located
across the river 1t would affect prop
erty under the jurisdiction of that
r. S. Buck, representing the Dis
trlct of Columbia Council of Enel-
neerlng and Architectural Societies.
filed a report on the subject, and
to Cooperate with the COM
mittee in further consideration of
the problem.