Evening star., 1947-06-22
District Offered
.11-Year Plan Of
Improvement
New Master Program
Would Put Facilities
Abreast of Demands
BY John w. Thompson, Jr.

An 11-year master plan of city
improvements was laid before
the Commissioners yesterday by
Engineer Commissioner Gordon
R. Young.
1t is revision by a represent
ative citizens committee of his So
called 6-year plan of year ago.
It Is designed to bring prewar
city government facilities and
services abreast of post war pop
ulation demands.
In addition to lengthening the
period of time over which the pro-
posed improvements would be
spread, the committee modified Gen.
Youngs cost estimates from $22S,-
600, 900 to $183,000.000.
The cost adjustment results from
a combination of knocking out some
of the items in the earlier 6-year
plan and boosting the cost estimates
of many that remain. A. few new
projects were added.
Subway Funds Excluded.
A key item in the cost differential
was the $60,0o0,000 downtown sub
way in the original report. The
committee urged merely a study of
the possibilities of less elaborate
$35,000,000 plan fot underground
street cars suggested by the Highway
Department. No subway money is
included in the $183,000,000 cost
estimate figure. .
The revised plan is geared to
provide services for District popu-
lation of 1,125, 900 which is FORE
cast sometime after 1870. This, the
report said, is the "saturation point"
of population for the city proper
unless zoning ordinances are
changed to lift present height limits
and thus turn Washington into a
city of skyscrapers. Such a change
is not favored in the report, which
estimates the present number of
inhabitants at 100000. The popula-
ton of the metropolitan area, in
Guiding Prince Georges and Mont
gomery Counties in Maryland and
Alexandria and Arlington County IN
Virginia, is over the 100000 now,
however.
Plan Is Outlined.
Specifically, the plan calls for:
| Highways and trafflc-a system of
converging freeways and improved
arterial highways to handle traffic
between residential sections of the
metropolitan area and the core of
the city. Improvements in belt-line
and crosstoWn routes. Comprehen-
sive revision of traffic signs, lights
and other controls. Provision of
more parking spaces by private en-
terprise If possible but by public
action if necessary. Solution by the
Federal government of its own park
| ing problem.
Public Safety-Increasing to 1000
the size of the metropolitan police
force. Replacement of all radio
equipment and 10 obsolescent po-
lice stations. -Four new engine or
truck companies with equipment
and personnel for the Fire Depart
ment and additional radio equip
ment relocation, reconstruction or
rehabilitation of some existing struc-
lures. Some improvements in the
prisons, mostly at Occoquan Work
house, Va. &
Public Works-Additions to the
water and sewage systems to take
care of a bad overload on both
today. A long-terin study of pos
sible future separation of domestic
and storm water sewage in the "old
city" Two new garages and re-
placement of old equipment for the
Refuse Department together with
money for better garbage service and
snow control.
New Hospital Buildings.
Public Health-NeW buildings at
Gallinger Hospital for psychiatric,
pediatric and out-patient services,
for crippled childrens' services, for
administration, for new laboratory
and for housing internes. A 35 per
cent increase in the number of tu-
berculosis beds available to the
Health Department. Additional
quarters and other improvements at
Glenn Dale tuberculosis Sanatorium.
-Four new health centers.
Education and allied activities
New schools or extensions of old ones
to eliminate double shifting of pupils,
to service new areas, and replace OBJ
solete structures. About 48 schools
are affected by the double shift
elimination plan and 81 by the re-
placement plan. A new school ad-
ministration building. Expansion of
the recreation system. A new unit
of the Central Library. New build
ings for three existing branch liz
braries and six more branch libraries.
1Saa IN6pP POHENfENTS pare AZ