Evening star., 1960-05-12
Silver Spring
Rte. 24O Link
Gets Boost
Detailed Study
For Hearing Set
BY Commission
BY DANA BULLEN
Star Stah Writer

The Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning
Commission has decided to
study details of possible
Silver Spring link between
Route 240 and the District. j,
The nearby Maryland plan
ming agency yesterday directed
its staff to prepare information
for presentation at a public
hearing on the route.
Arthur K. Stellhorn, COM
mission planning director, said
such a study will take until
September or possibly longer.
The new road would connect
the Districts proposed Northern
parkway with the Capital belt
way near Forest Glen in
Montgomery County. The
planners hope to use the belt
way to reach Route 240, also
known as Interstate Route 70-S.
The commissions action is
expected to generate new fire
in one of the areas hottest
planning controversies in years.
Silver Spring Fear
Discussions of a link with
Route 240 through a Wisconsin
avenue corridor have been pro-
longed and bitter. Critics of
a north central corridor fear
it would do to Silver Spring
what the Wisconsin avenue
corridor would do to Bethesda.
The commission voted to
start study of the Silver Spring
route at the urging of j. New
ton Brewer, jr.. vice chairman,
who is also chairman of the
Montgomery County Planning
Board.
He said the north central
road is the route we ought to
build now" Both Maryland
and District road officials have
indicated they favor this corri-
dor, Mr.. Brewer said.
Actually, an observer almost
needs a program to tell which
players in the roads contro-
versy favor which route.
The commission never has
actually said it rejected the
Wisconsin avenue corridor. but
it failed to include the route in
its highway master plan. The
commission staff favors the
Wisconsin avenue corridor.
The District has backed the
north central link but agreed
to indorse the Wisconsin ave-
nue. corridor formally if this
was the only way to qualify for
Federal funds for the highway. /
Commission Division /
John B. Funk, chairman of
the Maryland State Roads Com
mission, was expected to an
nounce support for the north
central route at a press con-
ference today. But the road
agency's chief engineer. Nor
man Pritchett, has said he
favors the Wisconsin avenue
connection.
Bertram D. Tallamy, admin
istrator of the Bureau of Pub
lie Roads, has told District Of
ficials a connection from the
Pooks Hill interchange to the
Inner Loop would have to fol-
low the Wisconsin avenue
route.
He said the north central
route is not a direct" con-
nection that would qualify for
Federal funds under 1856 Inter-
state Highway Act.
In addition, the Committee
of 100 on the Federal City has
opposed the Wisconsin avenue
route, as have many vocal and
influential citizens of Chevy
Chase and Northwest Wash
ington.
In urging the Maryland plan
ming group to start study of the
north central connection, Mr..
Brewer said he thinks this road,
plus a Wisconsin avenue subway
and the Cabin John bridge
might eliminate the need for
the Wisconsin avenue road.
Donald E. Gingery, also a
commission member, was absent
at yesterdays session. In the
past, he has indicated that he
backs the Wisconsin avenue
route as strongly as Mr.. Brewer
favors the north central cor
ridor.