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


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 S31.1
million.
These figures. commission Of
ficials argue, show that the ire
mendous cost increases - far
above estimates - have made the
mileage amounts impossible tc
attain. In addition. they say
much of the early money has
been Spert 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 tc
complete its original projects
even with the higher costs. Hi
insists that money will not bt
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,
eminent will pay up to 80 pei
cent of costs.
Here is the way the 12-yeal
programs financial outlook has
changed. as outlined by official;
for The Star:
The programs original cost
estimate was $3.50 million. The
Legislature itself added a few
projects to the program. raising
the cost to $500 million. Cost
increases over original estimates
figured to last August 81. raised
the total to STAB million. Finally
the cost of raising standards OF
projects on the Federal systems
sufficiently to qualify them fol
Federal aid, upped the total to
$3.50 million.
OF this 1888 million. about
1858 million would be in State
funds, and such revenues are il
sight. About $3.50 million would
be in Federal aid for projects
on the interstate system. State
officials believe the latter esti-
mate is conservative, and that
much more Federal aid money
may become available in the
future.
Toll Project Weighed
Out of the 1888 million total
officials also hope that one OF
the most expensive protects
Northeast Freeway" parallel
ing Route 40 from north OF
Baltimore to the Delaware line
may be removed from the
program and financed as a toll
facility.
If it is, officials want to ado
an additional $8l million worth
of Federal interstate" pro-
jectS not now in the program
for which the Federal Govern
ment would pay 80 per cent OF
the costs. Among these addi-
tional projects is a new SIS mil
lion Potomac River bridge al
Cabin John to link-along with
the Jones Point, Alexandria
bridge-a circumferential free
way around Washington in
Maryland and Virginia.
This $8l million worth Of pro-
jects, added to the 1888 million
would constitute the new tota'
of more than $3.50 million.
Optimistically assuming con-
| N I