Evening star., 1952-10-27
Engineer Group
lndorsesC City's
HighwayP|ans
1877 Pct. Of Projects
Found Conforming
With NCPC Proposals
By John w. Stepp

4A4C C44SAICCA444S OOA1oO1Gd11bS W
the National Capital Planning
Commission today declared them
selves in accord with about three
fourths of the District Highway
Department street improvements
program.
In the words of the consulting
firm, Harland Bartholomew and
Associates, 1877 per cent of the
highway plan is in precise con-
formity" with the 'comprehen-
|sive" highway plan prepared by
NCPC two years ago.
Slightly less than Is per cent
of the remaining individual prof.
ects are in direct contravention"
of the commission plan. The bal
ance are only partly unsatisfac-
tory to the NCPC advisers. The
hig hWay program, immediate
needs and long range. calls for a
total of So projects.
In making it's analysis, the
Bartholomew firm brought to light
that local highway officials under
shot their cost figure of $140 mil
lion by more than $50 million.
Although the consultants did
not call attention to the financial
discrepancy, the conflict in figures
was plain. According to a High
way Department spokesman, the
difference in calculations was due
to a $26 million error in simple
arithmetic. plus changes in indi-
vidual project plans during the
last nine months and an increase
in cost estimates corresponding to
rises in the price index Of ma
terials.
Samuel R. Harrison. deputy di-
rector of highways and chairman
of the Regional Highway Com
mittee which presented the origi-
nal plan, said the arithmetical
error was made in the long range
calculations.
However, Mr.. Harrison said he
felt mo concern" over the faulty
figuring because to meet $12l
million worth of immediate high
way needs would require a change
in the tax structure here.
Explains Difference in Fund.
Mr.. Harrison added that the
original plan called for 500 mil
lion expenditures over an eight
year period. For the same period,
the NCPC consultants used $106
million figure by including in their
total nearly $40 million in funds
now available.
Both the Highway Department
and Bartholomew arrived at the
same approximate revised amount
of $121 million for immediate
needs. Both agencies agree, more
over, that the overall total comes
to about $191 million, including
available funds. for a 15-year i'm
provement program.
Bartholomew analyzed the pro-
gram, project by project. NCPC
had been asked by the District
Commissioners to state it's views
of the plan, which the city heads
have approved in principle.
"NOn- Conforming" Projects
Chief instances of non-conform-
ity include these projects proposed
by the Highway Department.:
l. Development of Fourth and
Sixth streets NE. as the eastern
segment of the inner ring" of
thoroughfares designed to carry
traffic around the downtown Sec
ton. These streets cut through a
long established and stable resi-
Dental neighborhood, and would,
by handling large traffic volume.
impair property values and en-
danger children, according to the
consultants. Use of Third street
NV. instead, would be preferred.
The north segment of the inner
ring should be a widened T street
NV, rather than the Highway
Department'SI proposed treatment
OF @ and r streets for the pur-
pose. The latter two streets go
through residential areas, and
necessary widening would mean
removal of many fine trees.
2. Development of radial routes
running north and south through
Rock Creek Park. This highway
proposal would destroy park as
sets OF great value, according to
the consultants.
3 The already much-belabored
E street Bridge across the Po-
tomac River programmed by the
Highway Department would only
aggravate. not solve, the down.
town traffic problem. Bartholomew
and associates reiterated it's views
made in an earlier report that
bridges across the Potomac from
both Nebraska avenue and Alex
andria would serve the more use
ful purpose of by-passing traffic
around the city, instead of fun
neling it downtown.
Offers Additions to Plan,
Aside from analyzing the exist
ing program, the NCPC specialists
offered few additions.
One is an ole project, heatedly
opposed in past years: Extension
|of Massachusetts, avenue through
the Gallinger Hospital grounds
and across the Anacostia River.
This development would be of
great future Importance" the
East Capitol Street Bridge, now
l. 4 ~