Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-04
Planners Stay Out
Of Route 24O Row
Might Object
If Leg Enters
District Park
BY GEORGE BEvERIDGE
Star stan Writer

hSANH& MIN
BY GEORGE BEVERIDGE
Star stan Writer
The National Capital Plan
ming Commission decided today
to stay temporarily out Of the
latest Juror over Maryland
plans to extend a southeast
leg" road from the circumferen-
tial freeway to East-West high
way in Montgomery County.
Conrad L. Wirth, National
Park Service director, LAM
basted the move in Philadel-
phia speech yesterday as the
first step toward extending
Route 240 and circumferential
freeway traffic down the main
part of Rock Greek Park in
Washington. Mr.. Wirth also
indicated the commission would
step back into the fight today.
After a review of their past
opposition to the extension,
however, the planners decided
ito keep hands off-at least
until there are more detailed
plans of just where the road
will go.
May Object Later
The southeast leg would 90
from the circumferential road,
west of Connecticut avenue in
back of the Naval Medical Gen.
ter. to East-West highway near
Jones Mill road. The planners
left the door open to a possible
objection later If the extension
should be routed into Rock
Greek Park at East-West high
way.
However, Joseph Barnett,
Bureau of Public Roads off,
cial, said, IF we are going to
fall back on any such picayune
item as whether it encroacheS
on a little piece of park at
East-West highway, then we're
being pretty small about it,"
Mr.. Barnett said he was as
sured today by Maryland Roads
Commission Chairman Rob-
ert o. Bonnell that the State
does not intend to extend the
lleg any further than East
West highway unless the Dis
trict of Columbia, by its own
initiative, extends a highway UP
through the park to meet it.
Mr.. Barnett said the purpose
of the extension is to relieve
traffic on Wisconsin avenue and
this goal should be met.
Await Complete Plan
Commission members said
they had asked the State for
the complete plan of the road
and expect to receive one this
week. The planners decision to
keep out of the argument, how
ever, is expected to be a shock
to citizens groups led by for
mer Senator Gerald P. Nye who
are opposing the move.
Robert Keith, a commission
staff member, who attended one
of the citizen protest meetings.
told the commission Senator
Nye and his group certainly are
expecting the commission to
support them in defense of Rock
Greek Park"
Condition Turned Down
One of the main contentious
of the Nye group is that the
State is violating a 1854 agree
ment under which the National
Capital Planning Commission
lgave permission for the circum-
lferential highway to be built
partly through Rock Creek
Park between Wisconsin avenue
and Forest Glen in Maryland.
A review of commission files
today did show. in fact, that a
Icondition Of the commissions
approval on June 10, 1854, was
THAT a southeast leg not be
built. The files also showed,
however, that on June II, the
State told the commission it
could not accept this condition
and that the matter was
thereafter dropped. Also, the
commission was told a lengthy
court suit attempting to block
1.-THE road was inconclusive.
Chalk Explains Plan
On another matter, the PLAN
Iners heard o. Roy Chalk, D. c.
Transit System president, ex-
plain his dramatic proposal for
Ia 1000 unit "boatel," marina.
monorail system, exhibit area
land speedboat feet on the
Southwest waterfront.
Commission members sharp
ly questioned his plans effect
ION already approved redevelop-
ment programs for the water.
front. But Mr.. Chalk, un-
Idaunted, said he had alternate
plans which he was sure would
not conflict with any other ap.
proved plans.