Evening star., 1954-01-14
Finances 5nar|
Plan 10 Shift
Transit Tracks
Who Will Poy?'
Delays Project Of
| Keni!worth Avenue

The question of who's going to
pay has complicated efforts Of
the District to have the Capital
Transit Co. relocate it's Kenil-
worth avenue tracks. between
Benning road and Deane avenue.
The District requested the shift
be made so work can start on
a portion of the new Kenilworth
expressway in Northeast WASH
ington.
The transit company hasn't
replied yet.
cts question of who is
going to pay the substantial
costs" James H. Flanagan, tram
sit company vice president, de-
clared. He said the company
still is studying that problem as
we'll as engineering details.
Hauls Coal for Pepco.
The tracks in question are
used by Capital Transit to haul
coal to the Benning plant Of
the Potomac Electric Power Co.
This is a sideline to the COM
pany's normal business of haul
ing passengers.
Engineer Commissioner Louis
w. PrentisS said if the transit
company does not comply with
the request in time. the District
will move the tracks and bill
the company. He added that
transit officials have indicated
willingness to cooperate with
the city on the overall express
way project, however.
The relocation of the tracks
would be permanent. to harmo-
nize with the Districts plans for
the eXpressWay. The project is
to connect the Baltimore-W Wash
ington parkway and the Wash
ington-Annapolis freeway with
the East Capitol Street Bridge.
Cost Estimate Unavailable.
No estimates were available
Immediately as to the cost of re-
locating the tracks. The transit
company only says it will be
substantial.
District Highway Engineer j.
H. Robertson said he hopes to
ask for bids within two weeks for
the construction of a 26-foot
bridge over Watts Run, near the
intersection of Kenilworth and
Beane avenues NE. The bridge
will be used eventually for a
service road paralleling Kenil-
worth avenue.
1nitially, however. the bridge
would be used for rerouted traf-
fic while work is done on the
Deane avenue overpass road net
work.
Mr.. Robertson said it will be
necessary to have the transit
tracks shifted SO the construc-
ton Of the Watts Run bridge
can proceed.
Delayed by Congress.
The tracks have been the sub
ject of controversy for nearly a
year. Congress, by an amend
ment to the District appropria-
tions bill, last year prohibited the
city from interfering with the
use of the tracks by the transit
company for hauling coal.
Capital Transit Co. picks up
coal from the East Washington
Railway Co. siding. near Deane
and Kenilworth avenues. and
takes it to the Pepco plant.
The District Highway Depart
ment had hoped to eliminate a
grade-crossing of the tracks at
Deane avenue. Senator Milliken,
Republican. of Colorado inter-
ceded for East Washington Rail-
way and was instrumental in
keeping the tracks. The rail-
roads chief source Of income is
from its coal service, The rail-
way switches coal from the Ball
timore e. Ohio Railroad to its
own property,
Owned by Colorado Group.
The East Washington Railway
is owned by a group of Colorado
investors who have about S67,-
900 profits annually at stake.
Capital Transit also hauls coal
f,,oVON tho DnV,t1r1ylv,o 10 D Doi i1roa n
siding across Kenilworth avenue
to the Pepco plant. This oper-
. alton does not affect East WASH
, ington Railway.
Pepco has been trying to get
Congress- permission to build an
overhead bridge between the
plant and the Pennsylvania
yards so it could haul its own
y coal without crossing KenilWorth
> avenue at grade level. This idea
y appeals to the District Highway
{ Department because of the safety
factor.
=, Holland Blocks Bill.
e A bill authorizing this bridge
d Vas introduced last year in Con-
5. gress but was blocked by Senator
d Holland, Democrat, of Florida.
t The measure came up for Senate
) consideration again this week
and again was blocked by Sem
Il A group of Florida investors,
|, headed by Louis Wolfson. bought
: control of the transit company
e several years ago. Mr.. Wolfson
= is chairman of the board Of the
company.
n After the controversy, the Dis
e trict revised it's plan for the
e Kenilworth project to include
It the various tracks. Capital Tran
g sit officials agree that the ban
by Congress didn't prevent relo-
: cation of the tracks as long as
[, their use was not impeded.
Bill Seeks Tighter Curb