Evening star., 1951-11-17

Planners Expect to
Solve Traffic Routing
At December Meeting
Assurances were given today
that a decision will be reached
next month on a plan for rerout-
ing through traffic on the East
West highway and Sixteenth
street to relieve congestion in Sill
yer Spring. especially at the Coles
vile road and Georgia avenue
bottleneck.
Under continued pressure from
private property owners in both
the District and Maryland, the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission decided, at the
close of its monthly session yes
terday. that the long-delayed solu-
ton should be agreed upon at its
December 1914 meeting.
Recommendations of its Co.
ordinating Committee, made after
traffic surveys and careful study
since early summer, will be re-
solved then. it was hoped, by the
Federal, Maryland and District
agencies directly concerned.
Delays Subdivisions.
"We can't postpone a decision
any longer under pressure from
the owners of large tracts who are
delaying their own plans to build
subdivisions in areas under study"
Director John Nolen. jr., of NCPPC
said.
Largely because of opposition
from Maryland and District off,
cials. the -ordinating Commit
tee threw out one plan to divert
EaSt-West highway traffic south
ward to cross Sixteenth street IN
the District. The idea was to elimi-
nate the dangerous bend in the
Maryland road as it approaches
the intersection of Colesville road
into Silver Spring. District OFF,
cials had objected to making a.
grading at Sixteenth street.
Through east-weSt traffic and
north-south traffic, especially at
the Georgia avenue-Colesville road
bottleneck, makes access to the
hiISinacc oroo ", Ci1var Cy,r;,,o ~,
creasingly difficult. it was ex-
planned.
One major recommendation Isl
to reroute Sixteenth street traffic
via a connecting link to the Co.
lumbia boulevard in a northwest
erly direction.
By-passing Considered.
Another and more important
plan aims at permitting East West
highway traffic to bypass the
ColeSville road and Georgia ave-
nue intersection by cutting north
east to skirt the edge of Silver
Spring.
Mr.. Nolen said all the agencies
are in accord on these two plans,
but that the details must be
worked out satisfactorily to all
concerned.
Another traffic problem Of a.
different nature in connection
with the Anacostia approach on
the east side of the authorized
East Capitol street bridge also
was considered at the session.
The Highway Department and
planning commissions earlier had
presented alternate proposals for
handling traffic at Minnesota
avenue, with ramps from East
Capitol street. NCPPC prefers its
own plan. which it believes is
flexible enough to meet any rea-
sonable future traffic problem.
There is no need for rushing
the matter. and planning officials
indicated they would not stub
bornly oppose the District pro-
posal, since it is primarily the
Highway Departments concern.
Ihlder Wants More Study.
John Ihlder, executive officer
Of the National Capital Housing
Authority. however, believes the
Districts proposed roadway south
ward would come within S feet or
SO OF some of the dwellings in the
Fort Dupont housing project at
Ridge road. He said he recog-
nizes the need of routing traffic
through the project but that he
feels further study is needed be-
fore any action is taken.
What planning officials de-
scribed as very constructive and
hopeful session was held with the
entire membership of the Re-
gional Highway Planning Coun-
Gil. The purpose was to acquaint
the planning commission more
thoroughly with the status of the
forthcoming regional thorough
fare report. which will contain
definite recommendations as to
projects and procedures for the
consideration of proposals.
It was agreed that another
meeting would be desirable if
recommendations now being de-
veloped could be discussed freely.
Under general agreement, none of
these proposals was divulged. ex-
cept that the planning commits
sion said its interest lies primarily
in the possible effect on park
areas in and outside the District.
A printed document containing
definite proposals will be issued
by the Regional Committee early
next year.
The Regional Committee repre-
sents practically every agency
concerned with highway planning
In the Metropolitan Area.
(fopa nofo%4xxo~