Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-28
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muddle caused by the converging
of District. Federal. Maryland
and Virginia political jurisdic-
tons on the Potomac.
The bills present sharply con-
trasting formulas to pay for the
bridges. Each raises a different
set of problems.
Urges U. S. to Foot Bill.
Mr.. Broyhill wants the Jones
Point span and its major ap-
proach structures, costing about
$40 Million, to be financed en-
tirely by the Federal Govern
ment,
His argument is that this is
the only practical way to get
the bridge built. The bridge
involves Virginia because one
end touches State land. It in
wolves Maryland because most
Of the Potomac at that point
is Maryland property and be-
cause the bridgehead on this
side Of the river Is in Maryland.
It involves the District because
the city'S boundary angles into
the river beneath the proposed
bridge.
No ready-made solution-such
as area-wide authorities set UP
to handle such INTERPRETATIONS
al problems elSewhere-exists
here. Road builders and PLAN
hers in all three of the juris-
dictions favor the Jones Point
span. But none say they can
or should-pay for it.
Mr.. Broyhill said that If the
Federal Government pays for
the main structure, there is mo
question in my mind" that each
area will build the necessary
approach roads.
The E street bridge proposal,
however, puts the major burden
squarely on District taxpayers.
Mr.. Broyhill's bill calls for the
District to build the bridge with
Federal highway aid paying
about half the cost at an au-
thorized cost of $24.5 million.
Actually. highway officials figure
the span and its approaches
would cost about $32 million.
but their estimate includes ap-
proaches not covered in the
Broyhill measure.
Burden on District.
Highway officials expect Vir-
ginia to pay for something over
50 million in connections with
Virginia roads. Otherwise, how
ever, the major cost of the bridge
and its main approach struc-
lures on both sides of the river
evidently would be paid by Dis
trict taxpayers.
The history of existing Poto-
mac River bridges shows that
this same burden has fallen on
the District in the past.
New bridge needs have been
brought about largely by the
SpIraling expansion of nearby
Virginia counties. Many of the
residents are transplanted Dis
trict taxpayers. But Virginia has
escaped bridge costs almost en-.
tirely.
At the same time. study of
bridge financing over the years
shows clearly that the Federal
Government has drawn away
from a direct. responsibility for
bridges.
Two big factors get Virginia
of the hook:
l The Districts boundaries
reach to the high-water mark
of the Potomac on the Virginia
Ss1e. The river simply is not a
part of Virginia.
2. Most of the river shore
where bridges land opposite the
District is Federal-not Vir-
ginla-property. The FEEDER al
Governments extensive park de-
velopment along the river in eff.
feet makes it impossible for new
bridges to land in Virginia,
where the State might have
direct responsibility for APP
proacheS.
Part of Works Program.
The result. according to High
way Department records, is that
Virginia's total direct contribu-
ton to existing Potomac bridges
is 0,000-paid for one abut-
ment to the Chain Bridge when
it was rebuilt by the District
in 1888.
Virginia highway officials
argue that new bridges are
mainly a Federal responsibility
They contend that the huge
rush-hour bridge needs result
from big Federal employment
centers in Washington which
draw Virginia motorists and by
similar Federal establishments
In Virginia which draw District
residents.
Mr.. Broyhill noted that the E
street bridge is a part of the
Districts proposed $305 million
public works program, which
calls for SO million increase in
the Federal payment to the Dis
trict. But all this money would
go into the city's General Fund.
District officials stressed that
none of the Federal payment-of
whatever size-goes into the
Highway Fund, which finances
bridge and street improvements.
This fact has prevailed since
1888. when the present version of
the Highway Fund was estab-
liShed
Actually, budget officials said,
gasoline tax revenues have been
earmarked for exclusive expendi-