Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-04
Federal City Group
Endorses Only Part
0fHighway Criticism
By George Beveridoe

SSNSSSSSS
A general complaint that the
Districts proposed highway con-
struction program fails to pro-
vide adequate long-range cures
for Washington traffic ills has
been registered by the Commit
tee of 100 on the Federal City.
At the same time, however,
the group of civic and city
planning leaders refused to go
along with an indictment of
certain specific projects in the
1924 million program.
Up for action by the commit
tee yesterday was a strongly
worded 21-page subcommittee
report on the program. drawn.
up by Tracy 3. Augur, Mai.
Gen. .. S. Grant III, John Ihlder
and Horace Peaslee.
First Portion Approved:
In its first portion, the report
complained that the Districts
program primarily is a series of
short-range, stop-gap proposals
to solve immediate traffic prob
lens. Instead, it said, highway
planning should start with a
concept of what the city's needs
will be 20 or 30 years from now.
The report said the primary
need is for network of high
speed expressways, supplemented
by ring roads" for traffic cir
cumventing the city.
The full committee approved
this portion of its sub-group's
report.
However, it sent the other IL
pages back to its subcommittee
with instructions to: Cd Try to
reconcile specific differences
with District Highway Depart
ment officials and 20 redraft
the remainder of the report in a
way that it will be more in line
with the approved general prin-
ciples.
John A. Remon, vice chair
man of the National Capital
Planning Commission, fought a
losing battle to withhold general
support Of the reports prin-
ciples. While he proposed
efforts to reconcile differences
with District officials, he said he
wanted to see a more concise,
written statement of principles
before voting on them.
Lee Partly Critical.
Blair Lee III, executive officer
of the NCPC, said he agreed
with the reports general criti-
cism as to aims of the programs.
But in it's handling of specific
projects, he declared. the report
suffers to a slight extent from
schizophrenia."
Among projects criticized by
the subcommittee were the pro-
posed E street bridge, a Rock
Greek Parkway which would
connect with Maryland high
ways, and an express road
through the Glover-Archbold
Parkway.
Mr.. Lee said the report, with
its emphasis on radial highways.
should recognize a need for a
new central area" Potomac
River bridge to connect with Viz
ginia's Arlington boulevard. If
not at E street, he said, such
a bridge should be elsewhere to
serve Washington'S downtown
area. 4
Mr.. Lee also attacked as too
expensive a subcommittee pro-
posal that North Capitol street.
rather than Rock Greek Park.
might be developed as a new
northbound thoroughfare.
Alternative Use.
1.-THE report, to be consistent
with itself. should say Rock
Greek Parkway might be needed
if alternatives are found i'm
practicable" he declared.
Mr.. Lee pointed out that the
subcommittee based its objec-
tons to the park proposal on
traffic considerations, not on an
encroachment of park land. The
discussion that followed, how
ever. brought out strong objec-
tons to the basic idea of yield
ing park lands to highway uses.
At one point Gen. Grant said
! the committee is q member Of