Evening star., 1941-02-23
Kennedy Backs
Superhighway
In Maryland
Urges Early Action,
Cites Road Built
In Other Areas

State Senators from nearby Mary
land and Baltimore are backing a
bill now before the State Senate at
Annapolis to authorize the State
Roads Commission to issue bonds
for f-lquidating "super-high-
way" between Washington and the
new Philadelphia highway just be-
yond Baltimore.
1t was estimated the proposed toll
pike would cost $15,000,000, with
another 100000 for a bridge over
Baltimore Harbor to carry inter-
state traffic across the southern
part of the city without interfer-
ing with local traffic.
One of the principal bacfers of
the bill is Ambrose j. Kennedy of
Baltimore, who served Maryland in
the House of Representatives for
years and helped to get legislation
through Congress providing for
Maryland's primary bridge program.
Promoters of the project estl-
mated it would pay for itself in not
more than 80 years through collec-
ton of toll charges at a basic rate
of about a cent a mile for auto
mobiles.
Modern Safety Devices.
Preliminary plans for the null
tiple lane highway call for the in
clusion of all modern safety de-
vices, including the elimination OF
grade crossing and left turns, ample
shoulder widths, fencing along the
highway and center divisions.
Suggestions for the toll rate were
tentative, with buses and heavy We
hicles to be charged more than
pleasure cars and assigned to lanes
of their own, it was said.
While there would be few out
lets between the two cities, most
local traffic would use existing roads,
it is believed. Commuters rates
could be provided for regular users
of the road.
The bill is sponsored by State Sen
ators Marbury of Prince Georges,
Phillips of Anne Arundel, Lindsay
of Baltimore County and the six
Senators from Baltimore city. 1t
was referred to the Roads and High
ways Committee.
Desires Early Action.
Mr.. Kennedy said that after con-
sulting with numerous public and
private officials, he is convinced that
Maryland cannot afford to post
pone the solution of the by-pasSing
of Baltimore with the Baltimore
Harbor Bridge and the building of
a SuperhighWay between Baltimore
and Washington to eliminate deaths
and property damage occurring al
most daily along the present route"
1t was pointed out that President
Roosevelt has eliminated the hope
OF Federal funds to aid the project
because of the defense expenditures
and suggested that the superhigh-
way pay for itself.
This means" Mr.. Kennedy said
'that in the future the coastal route
running through Maryland will be
paid for by those people who use
1t and not by the general taxpayers
or the purchasers of gasoline
throughout the State. The method
OF raising money is similar to that
used to finance construction of the
SuSquehanna Bridge, where at least
% per cent of the cost is being paid
by out-of-State cars.
Route Not Yet Determined,
The exact route has not been de-
term1ned, but in general it is
planned to build it as close as nos
Slble on an airline between the two
cities. This would place so per cent
OF the road within Government
reservations, such as Fort Meade,
expediting the task of obtaining
rights OF way, it is claimed.
Explaining the project further, Mr..
Kennedy said:
The great work carried on in
New York to solve its intricate traf-
nc problems has been financed en-
tirely by the Self-liquidating method.
The fees to be charged for the
local bridge and motorway will re-
suit In a saving to the public in
three WayS-time, mileage and gaso-
line. Such has been the result of
similar projects in and around New
York City and in Pennsylvania.
Present traffic figures indicate
that there will be sufficient yearly
income to repay investors without
any contribution to the construc-
ton fund by either the taxpayer,
or the State or Federal Govern
ment.
THE route would be free of eye
cores, as control Of the right of
way is given to the State Roads
Commission. Private capital has
signified a willingness to purchase
the bonds.
More than half Of the traffic
(See SUPERHIGHWAY, Page BID