Evening star., 1947-04-07
Commissioners Back
is Road Jobs Based
On Gas Tax Increase

The Commissioners today an
nounced their approval Of is major
highway engineering project to be
built from 1850 to 1856 at an esti-
mated cost of $21,350, 900.
At the same time. they pointed
out that financing these items will
require enactment Of the proposed
/ cent Increase In the gasoline tax
now before Congress.
The projects are q part OF the
multimillion dollar overall highway
program presented to the city heads
December 10 by Highway Director
n. c. Whitehurst.
The schedule recommended by
Capt. Whitehurst for 1850 through
1855 was:
195o-Develop Barney Circle, work
on the K street freeway between
Twenty-first and Twenty-seventh
streets NV, begin the Arizona ave-
niue freeway.
Proposals for 1851.
le51-Complete the Barney Cir
Gle, K street and Arizona avenue
projects, begin on Mt. Vernon square
grade separation, some paving on K
street NV. and the extension OF
Fifteenth street NV.
1952-Complete Mount Vernon
Square underpass, begin grade sepa-
ration at Constitution and Penn
sylvania avenues NV, complete a
new Twentieth street bridge in Rock
Creek Park, begin grade separation
at Fifteenth and II street NE.
1953-Complete Constitution ave-
nue. and Fifteenth and H street un-
derpass, begin the grade separation
at New York and Florida avenues
NE, begin the Whitefaven park
way, begin K street freeway from
Third street NV. to Sixth street
NE.
Complete the grade separa-
tion at New York and Florida ave-
nues; complete the Whitehaven
parkway; continue work on the
northeast section Of the K street
freeway; complete work at G, Elev-
enth and Ninth streets S.W.; COM
plete grade separation at South
Capital and M streets S.W.
1s55-complete the K street free
way.
Based on Earlier Study.
Capt. Whitehurst's recommended
tions were based upon his own
earlier study in 1941 and the find
ings of two consulting firms who
made surveys here in 1943 and 1914.
The Commissioners referred them
to the Public Utilities Commission,
however, for careful study with par
ticular reference to financing the
Whitehurst proposal for under
ground trolleys in portions OF down.
town Washington.
The highway director had sug-
gested beginning the underground
trolley project in 1850 at an esti-
mated cost Of about $35 ,000, 600.
They also referred to the PUG a
proposal that a system Of express
buses be established between ap-
propriate residential and employ
ment areas.
Projects Beyond 1856.
As for the improvements recon-
mended by Capt. Whitehurst for
beyond 1856, the Commissioners
called for cooperative study by a
committee including representatives
of the Public Roads Administration
and the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. Included In
this group of projects are the pro-
posed City, Capitol Hill and
other expressways, a bridge across
the Potomac at Alexandria and a
bridge across the Anacostia in line
with Massachusetts avenue.
Highway improvements for the
next two fiscal years are set up
under the three-year Federal aid
postwar highway program. These
include such items as the twin
bridge replacement Of the present
Highway Bridge, the K street ele-
vated and the Dupont Circle under
paSS.