Evening star., 1953-09-17
| Bartholomew Would
Avoid Public Issues
On Roads, Planning

Harland Bartholomew, the
National Capital Planning Com
missions new chairman, wants
to bring about better co-ordina-
ton between planners and road
building officials and to settle as
many differences as possible "be-
fore they become public issues. :"
Mr.. Bartholomew, one of the
Nations most widely respected
planning consultants and long
time expert on District problems,
listed this as one of his aims
during a press conference yes
terday.
The 63-year-old chairman was
asked what could be done about
deadlock fights between planning
agencies and official operating
agencies, mainly on such issues
as highways and bridges.
He said such disputes are not
peculiar to Washington, but
arise in many cities where plan
ming groups attempt to map an
orderly coordination of various
development programs. He said
he wants to cooperate at the
earliest possible stage in working
out problems, and predicted this
would speed agreement.
1t is easier to resolve differ
ences. he said. if they are worked
out before the differences become
public issues which more or less
commit officials to certain
position.
Slums a Major Problem.
The soft-spoken, white haired
chairman also discussed slum
clearance and transportation
problems as among the most i'm
portant facing the city.
He said housing problems
usually begin with failure to
prevent deterioration of buildings
before they become slums." And
the best attack on such deterio-
ration, he said. is a housing
code, or a minimum standards
ordinance"
But city-wide attack must
also include the elimination and
redevelopment Of slum areas, as
well as "neighborhood planning
approach" to prevent well-estab-
liShed areas from slipping.
Mr.. Bartholomew, in an earlier
consultant study for the Planning
Commission has proposed that a
White HouSe-appointed commits
sion make detailed study OF
area transportation ills. He re-
iterated the idea in the news
conference.
The reason, he said, is that
improved facilities for automo-
biles alone can't solve cities
problems. "It appears that some
thing else, some new form of
mass transportation facility, is
needed" he said.
Rail Rapid Transit.
One example, not applied spe-
cif1cally to the Districts needs,
he said is the idea of construct
ing some form of rail rapid
transit In the median strips of
new expressways leading into
cities. Such facilities, he said,
could be tied in with the more
expensive underground subways
within cities. They would have
to be Incorporated, however, in
the expresswayS' original de-
signs.
Mr.. Bartholomew also said he
felt sure a good working rela-
tionship will be worked out be-
tween his commission and its
new sister group, the National
Capital Regional Planning
Council. He said the councils
primary job is to develop a re-
gional plan for the area. and
that he does not believe the
planning commission has any in
tention of trying to dominate
I that activity.
Mr.. Bartholomew, whose con-
sultant firm is based in st. Louis,
has been associated with the
commission as consultant since
it's formation a quarter of a CEN
tury ago. He has had a part in
many of the city's major de-
velopment projects. His firm, he
said, will be involved in no con-