Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-01-24
Commission 10 Hear
Confidential Reporfon
Thoroughfare Plan
By Nelson M. SHEPARD

Planning Commission was to hear
q confidential report today on
proposed changes in the thorough
fare plan for the Metropolitan
Area. some of which are at vari-
ance with that agency's own rec
concentrations.
John Nolen, jr.. NCPPC director.
was to submit q list Of projects
under study by the Regional High
way Planning Committee at the
afternoon session Of the January
planning meeting. He is the plan
ming commissions representative
on the regional group. which has
been surveying and analysing
traffic trends for the last three
years.
Much of the program is in ac-
cord with the planning commits
sion's own thoroughfare plan. but
certain notable departures are in
volved," Mr.. Nolen said.
For one thing, it is known the
NCPPC seriously opposed Dis
trict revealed plan for the extern
sion Of the Rock Creek parkway
through the Zoo and into Mary
land with one-way road on each
side Of the creek without a grade
crossing. This would be detri-
mental to park values, the COM
mission believes, since it is in
tended as major traffic route.
This morning the commission
approved a third and final land
purchase contract completing the
addition to the Turner School
Playground in the Southeast near
st. Elizabeths Hospital. Russell
Macdonald, land-purchasing Of
f1cer, said the three additions will
give the pupils an extra acre Of
playground. =
A single dwelling was on the
lot acquired today. Several pub
lie housing units built during the
war on Stanton place will be
moved, it was said, to provide
playground space on the property
involved in a transfer. This was
done so the playground would be
squared of.
Attention on Early Projects.
The planning commission pub
lished it's own thoroughfare plan
a year ago. based on a long
ranged planning study of the en-
tire Metropolitan Area. Right
now, it was pointed out. the COM
mission is concerned mainly with
such projects as can be carried
out in the near future.
Another thoroughfare plan, Of
immediate import, also was up for
consideration by the Federal
group. That involves further
study of methods worked out hi
agreement with Maryland ohicials
/, for the diversion Of traffic in the
/. northern corner Of the District.
notably in the Sixteenth street
and Silver Spring area. ! This
problem has been before the plan
ming commission of and on for
months.
A report will be made today on
the inside route, within the Dis
trict, diverting traffic from the
congested East-West highway into
| Silver Spring at Georgia avenue
land Colesville road Intensive
.atudy of the whole area has been
under way since the December
planning session.
Route Modification Up.
A third highway discussion will
involve the main access road to
the authorized East Capitol Street
Bridge for north-south traffic at
Minnesota avenue. AS originally
planned by the District Highway
Department, the access road would
demolish some 20 units of the Fort
Dupont dwellings. BY slight mod
ifications, it was explained, only
one dwelling would need to be
removed and two or three others
would suffer damage. The whole
realignment Of the access road
was designed to minimize the orig
inal damage that would have been
done to the National Capital
Housing Authority project.
From the District Commission
ers, the Federal agency has re-
ceived a revised plan intended
to settle the long dispute involv-
ing highway changes affecting the
Woodley estate and nearby area
In Cleveland Park.
While the planning commission
will consider the matter, q tech
uicality is involved. The Commits
sioners sent over the plan unap-
proved, precedent after some Is
years of cooperation. in which
the planning commissions own
T.