Evening star., 1947-10-29
Capital Transit
Opposes Avenue
Plan
Alternate Proposal
For Pennsylvania,
Constitution Urged

Highway Director H. G. White
hurst's plan for passing Pennsyl-
vania avenue under its intersec-
ton with Constitution avenue NV.
today ran into the opposition of
the Capital Transit Co.
At meeting of the Commission
erS and Public Utilities Commits
sion members, sitting as a joint
board, spokesmen for the transit
company presented their own So
luton to rush-hour traffic snarls
where the two great thoroughfares
cross at Fourth street NV.
In effect, Capital Transit pro-
posed to extend the present dog
leg" traffic movement at the inter-
section two blocks east-to open
it out like an accordion IN order
to provide more space for criSs-
crossing automobiles to get into
the proper lanes.
New Mall Road Proposed.
II the transit company's plan
we're put in effect, Pennsylvania
avenue would be made one way
eastbound between Fourth street
NV. and a point Immediately west
Of the Peace Monument, while Con-
stitutIon avenue would be one way
westbound from Louisiana avenue
NV. to John Marshall place.
Eastbound Pennsylvania avenue
traffic wishing to get onto Constitu-
ton avenue would use Louisiana
avenue NV, which would be made
one way north bound. A new road
would be built across the Mall for
west bound Pennsylvania avenue
traffic wishing to get onto Consti-
tuition avenue.
The highway departments under
pass solution, described to the board
by Gilmore D. Clarke of the New
YORK firm of Clarke, Rapuano and
Holeran, would put all Pennsyl-
vania avenue traffic, including
streetcars, under the intersection in
an underpass estimated to cost more
than $4,OO0,O00 This plan evolved
from study by the New York con-
sulting engineers concern.
The Capital Transit counterpro-
posal, presented by Maj. Gordon
Gravelle, traffic engineer, would
eliminate cross-movements into the
intersection by blocking off traffic
which now moves north and south
on Fourth street and John Marshall
place NV.
Maj. Gravelle said the alternate
scheme at relatively small cost would
increase the capacity Of the inter-
section as much as would an under
pass, more than doubling the present
capacity.
Capt. Whitehurst objected that
the transit company's proposed So
luton would throw the full weight
of Pennsylvania avenue and Consti-
tuition avenue eastbound traffic onto
the intersection of Third street and
Pennsylvania avenue NV, which
already is a trouble spot
Reluctance to Relay Tracks Charged.
Il am surprised that the transit
company came in here this morning
opposing an underpass because they
do not want to relay their tracks
the highway director said.
Il think questions to the motive
of the transit company are little
irrelevant" Engineer Commissioner
Gordon R. Young remarked
Capt Whitehurst said the High
way Department is definitely of
the opinion" that an underpass will
provide the only long-range solu-
ton to the problem.
His view was supported by Wallace
L. Braun, deputy director of the
Department of Vehicles and Traffic,
and Washington I. Cleveland of the
District Advisory Board of the
American Automobile Association.
Frederick A. Hunnewell, co-chair-
man of the Transportation Commit
tee of the Citizens Council for Com
munity Planning, asked more time
for study of the problem, particu-
larly with regard to the handling
of pedestrians. The group also heard
a letter from A. G. Neal, president
of the Potomac Electric Power Co.,
pointing out that if an underpass is
built Pepco will have to relocate
its underground equipment in the
area at an approximate cost of
S195,00O.