Evening star., 1941-04-27
LIST Of Priorities
For District Streets
Projects Planned
Public Hearing on
s44. SOC, 900 Program
Is Expected

If general" approval is given to
the vast array of proposed high
way projects outlined by Highway
Department officials in the survey
report made public Thursday night,
a list of priorities will be pre-
pared, Engineer Commissioner Da-
vid McCoach said yesterday.
The first step in consideration
of the s44,500,00O program, how
ever he emphasized, will be to call
a hearing to get the views of the
public and taxpayers on the whole
situation.
While Col. McCoach has been
the only Commissioner in the city
since the survey results were an
nounced, it is expected the Board
of Commissioners will order a pub
lie hearing before congressional ac-
tion is asked.
Capt, H. C. Whitehurst, Highway
direetor who headed the group of
officials drafting the recommenda-
tions. said he was prepared to
suggest what group of projects in
the list was the most urgent. but
that he felt this priority list should
not be prepared until after public
reactions had been recorded at the
planned public hearings.
Projects Include Tunnel.
Construction of vehicular tunnel
for the Potomac River. to provide a
new connection between Blue Plains
and Alexandria, was one of the ma
jor projects suggested in the survey
report Capt. Whitehurst indicated
yesterday this project would not be
placed anywhere close to the tor
of priority list of projects, although
he regards the development as high
~ desirable" because of the "spe.
cial' nature of the project. involving
District, Virginia and Federal in
tereStS.
THE proposed tunnel for the
Potomac, said Capt. Whitehurst
should receive special study as &c
the methods of financing, because
this project is one of special rather
than regular nature. and is out OF
the regular run of local highway op-
erations."
The first of a series of informal
conferences between District and
Alexandria officials already has
been held on the tunnel proposal
Capt. Whitehurst conferred late Fri
day with Carl Budwesky. city man.
ager of Alexandria, and John Nolen
jr., representative of the Nationa,
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission Later. Capt. Whitehurst
said the discussion was entirely gen.
eral and that no decisions had beer
reached.
Hope for Big U. S. Share.
District officials believe that tht
District must bear reasonable
portion of the cost of this tunnel
if it is adopted as a part of the pro-
gram; that Alexandria or Virginia
authorities would have to assume
the cost at least of provision of spe'
cial and adequate approach road
and connections on the Virgins
side; and there is hope in som'
quarters that the United State;
Government would bear a consider.
able part of the cost since the prof.
ect is conceived as having value t.
the United States as to defense anc
for facilities promoting defense O.
the National Capital.
However. Capt. Whitehurst Sug.
gested that because of the size O.
this project, the fact that it in
wolves two Jurisdictions and becaus,
of its proximity to Boiling Field
the Naval Air Station and the Wash,
ington National Airport-all involv'
ing special considerations-the plan
ming, designing and erection of tn,
structure, even after financial ar
rangements were completed, woulc
take some considerable time.
With the return to the city o.
Commissioner John Russell YounI
and Melvin c. Hazen, it is expected
that plans will be formulated soor
for the calling of public hearings.