Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-09
Fourth Of O Series

POl WILL Va Glic bdlCliilOIc, . WdST-
ington parkway touched the
District line. BY and large. COM
muters twice a day are wres-
ting with the same old routes
inside and outside the Capital
and steadily building traffic on
all of them toward saturation.
Some Practical Reasons
Frustrating as the waits are,
there are practical reasons for
most of them.
This month. State Roads Com
missioner Robert o. Bonnell will
tell the Maryland Legislature
that, instead of the 1868 million
expenditure contemplated before
1854, roads officials now may
spend more than $3.50 million
during the 12-year period = a
staggering increase of 70 per
cent
Several factors account for
this change. Some of them are
cause for optimism. Others fore
cast more trouble ahead.
On the plus side. the first three
years Of the l2-year program
have:
. Increased the prospects of
much better Maryland highways
much more likely to handle
tremendous traffic volumes of the
future-than were contemplated
three years ago. Mainly RESPONSE
BILE is the new Federal highway
act, which will make millions of
dollars available to the State
IN Federal aid grants. A number
OF the original projects called
for relatively minor improve
ments. The new prospects
largely to meet the rgiid stand
ards of Federal highway sys-
tems-will result in more free
wheeling limited-access free
ways.
Tied down right-of ways and
brought start of land acquisi-
ton for future roads-pre-requi-
sites to construction.
Controversies Settled
eSeen the program actually
get under way in each county.
Elementary as this sounds, the
last three years have shaken
down a number of controversies,
and taught officials invaluable
lessons.
On the minus side:
1.-The State has learned the
sad truth about estimates Of
future road costs. Actual high
way construction costs are up
"a per cent above the original
estimates prior to 1854. Engi-
neering costs are up 20 per cent.
Land acquisition costs are I'D a
staggering 81 per cent. These all
add up to an average increase
OF q per cent above estimates,
and that level is being used to-
figure costs from now on. But
there is no assurance the in
creases will not keep going up
and up.
Scandals, particularly in land
acquisition, have rocked the
program. In addition, political
pressures for earlier and addi-
tional road construction in spe-
cific areas repeatedly have done
the program no good.
Construction is behind sched-
ule. The Roads Commission, it
appears certain, will not meet
construction schedules in mileage
ordered by the Legislature for
the first four years of the pro-
gram.
The last point is certain to
get heavy attention from the
legislators when Mr.. Bonnell sub
mits a review of the last three
years this month.
Setting up the program, the
Legislature established certain
number of miles of road work
to be completed in each county
by the end of 1957-the first
four year period. 1t said, further
more, that the mileage in each
specific county was to be within
10 per cent of the amount
specified.
AS 1857 got under way, the
commission had under contract
only about so per cent of the
Statewide mileage specified for
the first four years. In Mont
gomery County, only SO per cent
of the scheduled mileage through
1857 is under contract. In Prince
Georges, only 44.2 per cent.
During the first three years,
however. the commission has
spent 92.3 per cent of the four
year money earmarked originally
for Montgomery. a total of $29.2
million, and 65.5 per cent Of
Prince Georges, a total of $3l.l
million.
These figures, commission Of
ficials argue, show that the ire
mendous cost increases - far
above estimates - have made the
mileage amounts impossible to
attain. In addition, they say,
much of the early money has
been spent on the most expen-
sive, elaborate roads - those
that are most needed TO carry
big traffic volumes.
Threatening as the cost in
creases are, however, Officials
believe they will be offset by the |
big new Federal aid amounts
In sight.
BOnnell Optimistic
Mr. Bonnell said he is optimis-
tic that the new Federal pro-
gram will enable the State to
complete its original projects.
even with the higher costs. He
insists that money will not be
available to add projects to the
program itself, although some
additional freeways may be pos
sible on the Federal interstate
system Of cross-country express
ways, for which the Federal Gov |