Evening star., 1959-06-09
$3.50 Million MonoroiI System
For Area Proposed by Chalk

His monorail line Ito run
overhead for all but about fye
of its il6 miles--would reach
north to Rockville and Friend
ship Airport. south to Alexan-
dria. east to Andrews Air Force
Base and west to Chantilly.
In the central downtown area
IT'S main trunk lines would 90
below ground but the rest Of
the way 1t would be suspended
on pylons about 20 feet In the
cir.
Financing details are being
withheld. Mr.. Chalk said. pend
ing discussions Of the plan with
District area officials.
He offered the monorail pro-
posal at the conclusion yester-
day Of a Senate District COM
mittee hearing on q bill which
would withdraw D. c. Transit's
franchise rights to operate
sightseeing and charter bus
services here.
This new plan. he told Sena.
tor Morse. Democrat Of Oregon.
was an example Of the fore
sightedness and creativeness"
d. c. Transit management rep
resents. He said the Senate bill.
similar to one proposed In the
House, would "stifie" his firms
progressive planning.
Lower Cost Cited
Mr.. Chalk added that the
monorail scheme he proposes
would cost half the amount
estimated for a subway and
bus rapid transit system PLAN
ners are now drawing up for
the metropolitan region. He
pointed out to reporters that
estimates have ranged as high
as $500 million for the re-
gional plan.
Two main lines are pro-
posed for the monorail system.
One line, starting at Rock
vile, follows Viers Mil road
into Silver Spring and then
shoots down Georgia avenue
and Seventh street NV. 1t
goes below ground by way Of
IAN open cut at Florida avenue
land continues to Virginia ave-
niue S.W.
At virginia avenue 1t
branches OF following the rail-
road rieht-of.way to the east
to Andrews Air Force Base
and to the west to the Penta-
lgon. At the Pentagon 1t
branches OF again with one
aeg going directly south
Through Alexandria to Hunting
Towers and the other to Chan
tilly Airport and the Central
Intelligence Agency site at
Langley.
The second line is q u
shaped plan starting at Rock
vile. It runs down Wisconsin
avenue, veers across the Chevy
lChase Country Club grounds
10 Connecticut avenue and
lcontinues overhead until 1t
reaches Florida avenue NV.
There It goes underground In
AN open cut until ] street
where 1t cuts across the center
gof the downtown area. cross
fling the other line ct an unde-
termined point on Seventh
street.
Goes Underground
The route continues under
ground to First street NE.
where it comes above ground
again and follows New York
avenue, then Rhode Island ave-
nue. and Route One to Laurel.
There 1t follows Maryland's
Route 602 to Fort Meade ana
finally turns cross-country end
ing at Friendship Airport.
Mr.. Chalk said he. doesn't
propose that the monorail be
the sole mass transit system.
But 1t is an essential phase Of
an overall combination Of high
speed monorail covering the
long express runs and fast mod.
ern buses over the freeways
and city streets. covering the
medium runs and local serv-
ice" he said.
The monorail, whicn could
have single track Or double
track installations. could con-
sist of single cars or uainS Of
up to four cars. travelling at
speeds over 80 miles an hour,
Mr.. Chalk said.
Submerging the lines In the
downtown area will allow COM
plete freedom Of cross traffic
and a complete elimination Of
interference of surface vehi-
cles." his report said.
He said such firms as the
st. Louis Car Co. and the Lock-
heed Aircraft Corp. can produce
monorails In q matter Of
months. He pointed out that
monorail systems are now In
use in Europe. He added that
a single monorail route could
handle as much trafiic as q a.
lane superhighway.
If District and area oficiali
approve the plans, Mr.. Chalk
said. I'VE would build It,"
Earlier testimony concerning
the bill TO end D. c. Transit'i
sightseeing and charter busi.
ness brought out the theory
that the proposed legislation Il
unconstitutional because i
would be taking property with.
out due process. :