Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-28
FuflIraD plan
- ~s--~~-~----s's'-ra
Emissions End
To Streetcar5
z Million Population
For 1880 Forecast at
Federal City Dinner
By Nelson M. Shepard

sey SitsttSt
By Nelson M. Shepard
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, III, last
night lifted the curtain on the
official comprehensive plan fol-
the development of Washington
to give the public a first sum.
mary of detectives, aimed al
meeting the requirements of an
estimated population of 100000
In the Metropolitan area in 1880
The occasion of this preview by
the chairman of the National Capita
Park and Planning Commission wa.
the annual Federal city dinner ir
the Hotel Statler. 1t was sponsored
jointly by the Joint Committee or
the National Capital, representing
nine civic and professional societies;
the American Planning and Civic
Association, and the Committee OF
100 on the Federal City.
Complete elimination of Wash.
1ngton's street railway system by
gradual substitution of more prac.
teal express and local bus services
was a new and outstanding propo-
sal contained in the comprehensive
plan.
Joint Agency Urged.
Gen. Grant disclosed also that
acquisition of land for Fort drive
being developed as a circumferen-
tial express road. is "a per cent
completed. Along this driveway, he
urged, should be developed new
Federal centers of employment as
part of general decentralization
plan to relieve the overcrowded CEN
trail city.
Additional high lights of the re-
port, construed by many at the
dinner as the most constructive
given in years on development of
the Capital, embodied the following
suggestions and opinions:
The need of a tri-StSte admins
trative and construction agency,
such as the New York-New Jersey
Port Authority: Such q District
Maryland-Virginia agency, it was
suggested, should be created to
finance, for example. the proposed
Alexandria Bridge, which touches
two jurisdictions, but is an essential
to Washington regional planning.
Population: Under existing con-
ditions, there is room in the District
itself for about 1000 900 inhabitants.
The population now is estimated at
about 100000. BY 1880, it probably
will reach the saturation point of
10000 900, and the entire Metropol-
itan Aired will have about 100000
people, compared with the present
100000.
Zoning Revision Urged.
Zoning: 1t is recommended that
the zoning regulations be revised in
detail, as soon as the personnel and
funds can be made available. Also
that a definite term be, set for the
termination of "non-conforniinG
USES" of which there is little hope
of their dying of naturally The
greatest need seems to be to educate.
the community as a whole to the
value of coming. the report says, to
safeguard against selfish benefits
at the expense of the public"
Federal employment and decen-
tralization: stop the continued
piling up of Federal employment in
the central city west of the Capt.
tol," it was warned. The super
charge" of Federal employment in
this area has created a congestion
that is rapidly diminishing returns
and threatening the stability Of the
central business area ITSELF
Eastern Development.
The report points to the need OF
providing permanent Federal build
ings east of the Capitol for those
now working in temporary buildings
and for the inevitable" future
growth of agencies. Such a policy,
it is believed, would help maintain
present central business area value.
reduce congestion and stimulate
new construction in the residential
areas north and south of East Capt.
tol street.
Housing: 1.-THE outstanding social
problem in the District" Gen. Grant
said, lis the lack of housing, espe-
cially for loW-income families" An
estimated $4,000 veterans are unable
to find fit houses that they could
afford, and 10000 miscellaneous ap-
plicants are on the waiting list of
the National Capital Housing Au-
thority.
Gen. Grant urged immediate ap-
preparations to carry out the $780,
100000 Redevelopment program to
help relieve this human suffering
and social damage" The Redevelop-
ment law is adequate, he said, ex-
cept for some Gripping amend
ments inserted by interests hostile
to public housing to impede its exc
cution and which certainly need to
be rescinded."
A major part of Gen. Grants
analysis Of the comprehensive plan
was devoted to streets, traffic and
transportation problems.
Opposes Subways.
Opposing frequently advocated
subway systems, Gen. Grant said:
"Streetcars are essentially local
transportation. and any extensive
placing of them underground would
not merely be money wasted, but
would largely bypass the passen-
gers that now support them
Arguing in favor of bus services,
he said the excessive cost of the
streetcar system eventually will
make it no longer economically
justified"
New lines of transportation will
be buses, running on both express
and local schedules" he added.
Final drawings and conclusions in
the comprehensive plan relating to
the solution OF traffic problems are
being delayed, it was pointed out,
pending completion of the extensive
regional traffic survey now in prog
ress. Meanwhile, much can be done,
and done inexpensively, by making
provisions for adequate off-street
parking, elimination of on-street
parking, greater use of one-way