Evening star., 1952-01-30
Committees Shirley Truck Ban
Decision Is Due Tomorrow

> 0Bl
Decision Is Due
BY s,off Correspondent Of The ssor
RICHMOND, Jan. .30.-A State
Senate Committee is expected to
decide tomorrow the fate of a
bill to ban heavy trucks from
Shirley highway.
Northern Virginians turned out
lin force for a Roads Committee
hearing yesterday on the -legisla-
Ition. Most of those from the
Arlington Alexandria Fairfax area
were opposed to banning cargo
carrying trucks of more than 1la
tons capacity from the limited
Iaccess highway leading into Wash
lington. The opponents numbered
about $50, while proponents were
less than so.
A severe blow to the legisla-
Ition, introduced by State Senator
Charles r. Fenwick of Arlington,
at the request of his County Board
and School Board. was dealt from
the State Highway Department.
Cities Accident Figures.
Highway Commissioner James
A. Anderson said the Shirley high
way had heen planned f0t use Of
IalI classesY Of trafic since its In
Icepti0n IOgyears a90 irther-
|m0re ai re sessed figures 10 show
that the t0ts number df aeci-
dents on roufeS1 and dsthe Shirley
highway, between Woodbridge.
Wa. aud the Fourteenth Street
Bridge into Washington, was low
er during the five-month period
since trucks have been permitted
on Shirley than during the five
months Immediately preceding,
when trucks could only use
route !. %.:.
Gen. Anderson expressed reluc-
tance to oppose the bill OF the
Arlington legislator because, he
said, there are few people in
Virginia who have done more for
the roads of this State than Sena-
tor Fenwick."
From the outset, he said, the
State had an understanding with
the Federal Bureau Of Public
Roads, which put up nearly rs
per cent of the money for the 50
million road. q
Accidents IS Pct. Lower.
Col. C. w. Woodson. State police
superintendent, presented accident
figures to show there had been a
reduction in the accident rate by
18 per cent since trucks began
using the Shirley, although he ad-
mitted the change had not been
in effect long enough for q def
mite conclusion.
The issue saw the three Arling-
ton legislators-Senator Fenwick
and Delegates j. Maynard Ma
gruder and George Damm-lined
up against their colleagues from
neighboring areas, Delegates Ed
win Lynch of Fairfax and Armi-
stead Boothe Of Alexandria and
Senator John A. K. Donovan, who
represents both areas.
Mr.. Fenwick said he is willing
to accept an amendment to ex-
cept buses from the proposed ban
on Shirley. He called on Mrs.
Elizabeth Campbell of the Ar
lington School Board to support
his argument that schools along
the highway in his county consti-
ltute reason for enacting the
proposed law.
Route Schools Cited.
But this was, counteracted by
Mr.. Lynch and Mrs. Horace
Crowther Of the Fairfax School
Board, who said 10 schools In their
county are on or near Route /.
Alexandria School Supt, T. e.
Williams said there are six schools
and another under contract that
would be affected If trucks were
forced to use Route / through his
city. Total enrolment at the
affected Fairfax and Alexandria
schools was placed at 10000 chill
dren.
Arlington County Manager A.
r. Lundberg argued that the
trucks on Shirley travel through
one Of the best residential sec
ltions. 1t. Frank Palmer, Airing
/ ton police safety director. said
more than $4,000 passenger cars,
plus $500 trucks. travel the Shir-
LEY at the Glebe road overpass
during q 24-hour period.
! Among those supporting the
bill were e. O. Braun, assistant
school superintendent for Arling-
ton: ]. b. Howell of the Fair
ilington management. Timothy
SWEET Of the Parkfairfax Citizens
Association, T. c. Campbell Of the
Parkfairfax management. Horace
Walker, Retail Gasoline Dealers
cf Greater Washington: Paul
lLewinson Of the Arlington Ridge
Citizens Association. George A.
Eddy OF the Seminary Hills Civic
ociation, G. Harrison Mann of
Ithe Arlington Democratic Coun-
Icil and Wilfred Blunt, represent-