Evening star., 1952-02-21
Planners Take
Stand Today on
future Highways
Commission Expected
To Issue Statement
On D. c. Program
By Nelson M. Shepord


Federal planners were prepared
today to take issue with the Dis
5rict Highway Department on
certain proposals in the $140 mil
ion highway program for Wash
lngton.
A general statement on the pro-
gram, critical in some respects,
was expected to be issued at the
monthly meeting Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission. From its viewpoint, some
Of the major proposals in the
District program conform to
NCPPC"s own long-range thor.
oughfare plan of two years ago.
Others definitely do not and, If
finally approved. might do harm
In the end to the orderly develop
ment Of certain portions Of the
city.
NCPPC's thoroughfare study
was taken into consideration by
the Regional Highway Planning
Committee. which drew up the
overall program. The portion OF
the program outlining projects
outside Of the District. in the re-
gional area, has not yet been
made public. Planning Director
John Nolen, jr., however, will re-
port to the commission on prog
resS being made on that phase Of
the highway program.
Two Main Conflicts.
The two main conflicts are the
proposed e street bridge, crossing
the Potomac River over or close to
Theodore Roosevelt Island, and
extension Of the Rock Creek park
way from Tilden street into Mont
gomery County. NCPPC would
divert traffic via Colorado avenue,
instead.
The bridge project already has
encountered opposition from Ma
tional Capital Parks and the
memorial association that bought
and donated the Roosevelt Island
to the Federal Government for
preservation. as q natural wilder
ness.
Aside from that, the planning
commissions study of future Po-
tomac bridges, based on careful
traffic studies. took in the long
proposed crossing at Alexandria
and another site on line Of Ne
braska avenue above Key Bridge.
These two proposals were omitted
from the highway program In
favor of the E street project.
Mr.. Nolen was a member of the
Regional Committee but does not
concur with its findings in favor
of either of these two principal
projects.
Progress Reported.
Progress in acquiring additional
land for the scenic George Wash
ington Memorial Parkway between
Key and Chain Bridges was re-
ported today by the commission.
Russell Macdonald. land pur-
chasing officer, obtained approval
of six contracts totaling 90 acres
in scattered lots. Three are near
Key Bridge, one at Chain Bridge,
the others in between.
He reported to the commission
that single tract of 113 acres
owned by the Smoot Sand and
Gravel Co. is about all that re-
mains to be purchased.
The commission also authorized
the United States Attorneys Of
flee to settle a condemnation suit
for $4,000 square feet of land,
about 3 acre as an addition to
the Kingsman School playground
at Fourteenth street and Tennes-
see avenue NE.
Action Expected.
Because of tomorrow's holiday,
the planning commission will
clean up its agenda at an all-day
meeting.
Action is expected on such
matters as:
Approval of the Highway De-
partment's plan barring forever a
road curving through q proposed
subdivision east Of Sixteenth
street in the northern corner of
the District to connect with
roads. A rejected Mary
land plan would have extended
this road under Sixteenth street
into Colesville road to avoid the
bend in the East West highway
as it approaches Colesville to
shunt traffic into and across
Georgia avenue.
Approval of a site plan for
Richardson Dwellings in the
Northeast and extension of High
land Dwellings in Southeast Ana
costa. These are both National
Capital Housing Authority prof.
ects.
Consideration of the final re-
port on the planning commissions
own reorganization, which still
must be cleared by the Budget
Bureau.
Parking Proposal Up.
Consideration will be given in
a report by Mr.. Nolen on the
acquisition of land for automobile
parking purposes by the District
Motor Vehicle Parking Agency. If
$40 million or $40 million is to be
spent, as proposed by the Special
Advisory Committee and the Park
ng Agency. respectively, NCPPC
S interested in seeing that land
condemned and sold be protected
,y clause in the contract re-
;tricting it solely to parking pur-
,oses. It is similar to a restriction
n the Land Redevelopment Act.
st. Aueustine's Rectory