Evening star., 1954-09-30
Area ParIey
Sees IIrlbaIaIlce
Of Highways
Maryland ond
Virginia Prospects
In Shurp Contrast
By George Beyeridee

sIsB
By George Beyeridse
Area trafiic experts. seeking
ways to work more closely on
common problems, had before |
them today a sharply imbal-
anced picture Of new highway /
prospects.
Maryland is optimistically
riding the crest Of $500 mil
Lion road program, which viii
bring the Washington area 544
miles Of new roads in the next
IL years.
Virginia legislators concede
they must find ways to finance
big projects needed in this area.
The difference showed up
dramatically in talks yesterday
by officials attending the third
annual Commissioners and Gov
ernors' Conference on Metro
politan Traffic Problems, held
in the Hotel Washington.
Standard Laws Asked.
Maryland. District and Vir-
ginia officials approved COM
mittee reports proposing dozens
of steps to improve enforcement,
court and other traffic pro-
cedures. Many are aimed at
standardizing laws or regulations
to make the same rules apply
throughout the area.
The proposals will be pushed
during the next year by a special
traffic council. In panel discus
sion yesterday, indications were
that some are in for rough
shedding.
Maryland Roads Commissioner
Russell H. Mccain touched of
the highway situation in an adj
dress on the status and financ-
ing Of his States 1886 million
highway program.
Mainly Through Bonds.
The program. financed mainly
by bond issues, calls for $50 MIL
lion ito be spent for 266 miles
of road in Montgomery County
and $50 million for 278 miles in
Prince Georges, Mr.. Mccain said.
Those with the highest priority
in this area include completion
of. the Washington National
Pike from Frederick to WASH
ington tnow under contract as
far south as Rockville), COM
pletion of the Annapolis freeway
to Washington, extension of Six
teenth street NV. and rebuild
ing Of Route 301 to the Morgan
town bridge.
"In IL years, Maryland will
have completely modern high
way system" he said. stbut win |
be paying for it until about $780,
in the retirement Of bonds.
At a panel discussion later. re-
porters asked Virginia legislators
about prospects for big Virginia
road expenditures in this area.
The State Highway Department
has warned fatty that it has no
money In sight for many projects
planned.
Bonds Virtually Out.
William II. Irvine Of Evington,
Va, chairman of the Virginia
Legislature Roads Committee,
said the State is committed to a
pay-as-you-go program. A bond
program such as Maryland has
would be a surprising backoff
from "long-established policy"
he said.
Asked if he feels the rural
State Legislature gives urban
areas a fair ALLEGATION Of road
money. Mr.. Irvine said. with a
laugh, he is a rural legislator"
himself and thinks it does.
State Senator Charles r.
Fenwick of Arlington said he
wants further investigation of
possible toll facilities in this
area. The question of Federal
responsibility in nearby Virginia
also needs more airing, he said.
Both the legislators. however,
agreed study is needed to find
new revenue sources for all State
roads-rural and urban.
Maryland Inspections Forecast.
In, other highlights of panel
discussions:
/. Perry 0. wilkinson, Prince
Georges County member Of the
Maryland House of Delegates,
said chances are bright for es-
tablishment of a motor vehicle
inspection system at the next
legislative session. Such a sys-
tenn was urged strongly by con-
ference committees.
q. District Commissioner Rem
ah Camalier, Representative
Hyde, Republican, of Maryland,
and Mr.. Wilkinson agreed
chances are good for establish
ment in the District and Mary
land Of voluntary chemical tests
to determine the degree of in
toxication of tipsy drivers. But
they doubted the tests would be
made compulsory for all sus-
poets.
A conference committee had
urged the tests ultimately be
made compulsory, with a finding
Of .i5 of per cent of alcohol
by weight in the blood presump-
tive Of intoxication. Virginia
has provisions for tests. but only
when requested by traffic Of
tenders.
8. Mr.. Camalier and Mr.. Hyde
were cool to a proposal that
mandatory jail sentences be
given persons who operate cars
after their licenses have been
revoked or suspended. They said
they felt courts should have dis
cretionary powers In unusual
cases. Such a mandatory pro-
vision applies in Virginia.
4. Mr.. Wilkinson and Mary
land State Senator j. r. Fletch-
A.. ~ Dysiyano roo,.uoc ~oi<l xt.n~,