Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-25
Parkway or Truck Expresswuy?'

TOTkWuy OF lIuGN GXPIeSSWuE
(See Editorial: "For Passenger
Vehicle TrG6ic").
With regard to your February 20 edi-
torial entitled Parkway or Truck
Expressway?" I am surprised and
deeply shocked at the attitude which
The Star has taken on this subject.
You state that commercial interests
along Baltimore boulevard are fearful
of that route becoming truck route
with consequent loss Of business to
them. This may be true, but what your
editorial overlooks is the feelings Of
thousands Of people. like myself. who
live in neighborhoods near Baltimore
boulevard. Excessive truck traffic is a
menace. A dear friend. living in
house near me with wife and three
children. was killed by truck while
his car was stopped for traffic light
at College Park. Two HyattSville fire.
men recently were killed by a truck.
These are common everyday occur
rences along the boulevard People are
afraid for their children going to school
and are afraid to face the truck traffic
while going to their homes, work and
shopping. And how about this ever
flowing truck traffic dividing the beau
tiful University Of Maryland?
Is it any wonder that we cry for
relief and ask in the name of justice
and decency that the new road to
Baltimore be opened to all types of
traffic. The new road is limited access
and is being built to accommodate all
types of traffic, which Baltimore
boulevard never was. It has no major
population areas on it as exist on Ball
timore boulevard. With some adjust
ment Of traffic from the boulevard to
the new road, you would then have
two safe roads, not one safe road and
one murdererS' row.
Let us have two safe roads.
G. r. Buchanan.
Your editorial, Parkway or Truck
ExpreSsway?" overlooks several factors
which neceSSitate opening of the
new Washington Baltimore Parkway to
truck as well as automobile traffic:
l. The present U. S. has seen a
residential development making it, in
many areas, more Of city street fire.
quented by school children than an
1ntercity highway. Because of the
heavy burden of traffic it bears, the
road is plagued with danger. And the
very greatest danger stems from
bulky. faSt-moving trucks-only 20 per
cent Of which have terminals in the
District of Columbia The truckers
themselves desire to follow the new
parkway connecting up with roads by
passing Washington and going to
their southern-city terminals. Remove
trucks-minimize danger-save lives!
2. The State of Maryland and the
counties depend upon its commercial
enterprises for tax revenue. What pur-
pose would be served by diverting
tourist automobile traffic away from
and putting out of businesS-the
merchants that have invested their
LIES efforts on the numerically
recognized tourist route of the East
Coast?
3. II the new parkway Is indeed
opened to truck traffic. such a move
would not be unprecedented as you
would have your readers believe. The
Suitland Parkway was built with
Federal funds and is United States
Government owned. yet truck traffic
travels that parkway unimpeded.
Donald E. Wolpe.
] am inclined to take issue with the
writer of the editorial, Parkway or
Truck Expressway?" on several points.
The first is the implication that any
change in policy permitting trucks to
utilize the new parkway would i'm
mediately classify it as "modernized
version of the Baltimore pike" The
Baltimore pike has earned its reputa-
nf
more particularly because when it was
first established the present-day vol
ume OF traffic was not anticipated in
solar as safe operation is concerned,
and zoning restrictions were not i'm
posed which would have made it more
attractive.
With respect to the new highway, I
am not too sure that the restriction
to passenger traffic originated with
Congress. although it is possible that
such plan may have been suggested
when the appropriation was consid-
cred There are many express high
ways in the United States and most Of
them permit use by trucks. In my
opinion, that is not a cause for ap-
prehension from the standpoint of
safety. In fact, believe most of us
could benefit if we consistently fol-
lowed the driving habits of the average
truck driver particularly on the in
terurban highways.
The statement that there were po-
litical pressures behind any attempt to
secure the use of the new highway by
trucks implies something sinister. Any
attempt by corporate or individual
taxpayer to persuade his legislator
to grant him the use of public property
road for which he has paid a substan-
tial part of the cost constitutes sim
pie privilege and duty and is not an
unreasonable exercise of his rights.
frankly admit that as view from our
own property the huge new highway
construction project Immediately adj
jacent representing part of the tax
dollars contributed by this company
and our many employees there is a
feeling of distinct resentment that we
will not be permitted to use this very
convenient access to Washington as
well as points north and south, but be
|0 4 ~