Evening star., 1952-11-26
Assembly 10 Get
|ExpresswayP|an
TO Ban Trucks

Proposed Legislation
Discussed at Session
Of Council Committee
A plan to ban trucks from the
new Baltimore Washington ex-
now under construction,
and make the road a scenic park
way will be presented to the
General Assembly in
January.
Interest in such a move was re-
vealed yesterday, as the Finance
Committee of the General Assem-
bly's Legislative Council met in
Baltimore to discuss the future
OF the States highway system. The
committee heard members of the
Maryland State Roads Commits
sion present details of it's proposed
12-year highway construction
program.
The highway program, to cost
some 1858 million, is to be financed
by raising the gasoline tax cent,
raising the registration fees for
automobiles and trucks, by float
ing bonds and possibly by creating
one or more toll roads. The Gen.
eral Assembly, of course, will have
to authorize all this.
Favorable Reception.
The reception of the highway
program, by the Finance Com
mittee, apparently was favorable.
A. Gordon Boone, chairman of the
committee. said his committee
would take action Tuesday, when
another meeting is scheduled.
I'm going to do my best to get
a favorable report" he COM
mented. II think it is sound
program"
Jerome Robinson, delegate from
Baltimore. started the discussion
of the future of the Baltimore
Washington expressway when he
told Russell H. Mccain, chairman
OF the roads commission:
II don't want to spend a nickel,
II the roads are going to become
obsolete as soon as you get them
down."
More Authority Suggested.
Mr.. Robinson asked if the roads
commission had any legislation it
wanted which would give more
control of the roads to be built
under the program. His point is
demonstrated by the fact the
commission says the Pulaski high
way GU. S. Route 400 from Balti.
more to Delaware, a compara-
lively new highway, already Is
obsolete because of commercial
development along it. 1t can only
be widened now at great expense.
Mr.. Mccain pointed out the
roads commission is asking legis-
lation to clarity and strengthen
its power to control the access
to super highways.
Mr.. Robinson said he would like
the new Baltimore Washington
expressway declared a parkway
and commercial vehicles banned
from using it. He said he would
sponsor such legislation and also
legislation giving the roads COM
mission power to declare other
highways as parkways in its dis
cretion.
Senator Louis L. Goldstein of
Calvert County asked if Mr.. Nc
Cain was prepared to submit maps
of roads planned for each county.
He declared:
II want that information before
I vote on this program. I want
something in black and white"
Mr.. Mccain said maps of each
county's projects are being pre-
pared and will be given to the
Legislative Council just as fast as
they could be finished.
Share for Two Counties.
Meanwhile, the Roads Commits
sion revealed that Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties
would get about q per cent of the
money to be spent during the 12-
year highway construction pro-
gram.
Montgomery's share will total
$68, ,754, 900. This amounts to 256.35
miles of new or improved high
ways.
Major projects planned for
Prince Georges County were re-
vealed by Walter c. Hopkins,
Roads Commission engineer, Mon
day night when he addressed the
county Chamber of Commerce.
The Montgomery County pro-
gram will include these major
projects, some new and some i'm.
provements of existing roads:
The Washington National Pike
from Clarksburg to George WASH
ington Memorial Parkway; Rock
Creek Parkway connection from
Wisconsin avenue to the District
line; a circumferential highway
around Washington from the
Prince Georges County line to
George Washington Memorial
Parkway.
Connecticut avenue improve
ments from Chevy Chase to Prince
Georges County line; Maryland
Route 81 from Olney toward Glen
mont; River road from Washing
ton National Pike to the District
line.
Dual highway along Sixteenth
street from Georgia avenue to
East-West Highway; dual high
way along Maryland Route 1877
from Alta Vista to U. s. 240; dual
highway along Bradley boulevard
from Leland street to circumfer-
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