Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-02-11

bridge; both approximately doubled in this period
In estimating that Highway Bridge traffic will again
double by 1860 the highway authorities have laid great
the growth Of traffic during the aforementioned
abnormal period Of expansion of the Federal establishment
in the directly served by the bridge This assumption
however is not valid it based upon further material
increase in Government employment within the
under the plans laid by National Capital
and Planning Commission for permanent buildings
of the future expansion will take place at locations easily
not easily reached by other cross-rver facilities,
existing proposed In fact, when the temporary
buildings removed and the uneconomc policy of leasing
Office space abandoned there will be material reduction
in the number of Federal employees the Highway Bridge
tributary Compared with conditions today the
proposed reduction will be from about 100000 employees
west OF the Capital less than 10000 which is all that
it appears WISE desirable economic to concentrate in
this
Calls Six-ane Bridge Ample.
Based this plan for the future the planning
mission contends that single six-lane bridge with
capacity double the prewar traffic volume the existing
fourane bridge not only ample the forseeae needs
but all that is desirable to provide in location where
the District approaches and distribution facilities
actually in Immediately adjacent to the congested
business district and the most intensive Government public
building It believes that than double the
capacity required under temporary and abnormal cond
tons is needed then an additional bridge should
sructed elsewhere probably in the vicinity of Alexandria
to provide more even distribution OF crossrver
connections Such bridge needed anyway to provide
communications between the rapidly growing eastern part
of the city and and the territory west and south
thereof will be further justified when Federal buildings
extended along East Capitol street proposed the
planning commission Until this is done, all trac from
and to points beyond must traverse already congested
streets in and adjoining the business district and the
principal Government building development.
With the single. sx-lane bridge at Fourteenth street
and not counting the proposed Alexandria Bridge shall
have 10 bridge lanes the Potomac to Metro
poitan Area of 1250000, whereas New York City, with
about and onehalf millions is served with 6 bridge
and tunnel lanes the Hudson and the Philadelphia
hv
10 lanes the Delaware If count in the proposed
Alexandria Bridge shall have % lanes across the
Potomac distributed in to the population OF
the entire city and Metropolitan Area and to relieve the
downtown section Of traffic which is not bound for that
part Of town. !,
Facilities Here Held Generous
Thus comparison with cross-rver facilities In other
larger metropolitan areas similarly divided, those pro-
posed the Potomac River amply Further
the Virginia portion OF the Metropolitan Area
becomes compacty developed It is reasonable to
that greater reliance and should be placed
upon mass transportation for travel especially for all
day workers in the morning and evening rush hours In
addition, conditions return to normal 1t be
expected that increasing proportion OF Pentagon work
ers will desire to live In Virginia. with corresponding
decline in the proportion Of Virginia Government workers
desiring to work in the District.
All this would be In accord with we-considered plans
for the National Capital Park and Planning Commission
which has spent Is years In studying future balanced
plans for Washington, taking into account the deve-
opng Of land In the city In relation to regional
highways and local street systems Under sound planning
highways and bridges designed not only to great
streams Of traic where needed, but to distribute in
order to relieve artnciay created congestion In the
crowded parts of the city, which inevitably decreases
accessibility with resultant decline in property values
There is another consideration which bothers good
Of The Jefferson Memorial which was ut first
proposed at unacceptable spot in the middle Of the
Tidal Basin finally placed In its present position
with the understanding that the approaches to the
Fourteenth Street Bridge would be adjusted to leave
proper setting Of trees around the Memorial Not only
would the approaches for the two bridges ne
the riverside park take the interesting garden
but the grading would take the present effective tree
background Of the Memorial. On the other hand the
single bridge would be the axis Of the Memorial and
would give motorists approaching from the South GOOD
(see ONE BRIDGE Page C-oo