Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-11
D. c. to Stress
Aesthetics in
Rood Projects
BY GILBERT GINEBLE
Star staff Writer

Planning Commission.
This is the reaction Of the
planners who have been on
both sides OF the issue-those
who had urged delay Of the
program as web as the highway
officials who fought a slow
down.
District Engineer Commits
sioner Frederick j. Clarke, who
led the fight for approval Of
the highway projects. said
more emphasis on the esthetic
and human aspects of highway
program is the direct result Of
this latest freeway battle.
Smoothing the way for the
District Commissioners to seek
highway funds for four Inner
Loop projects, the NCPC yes
terday unanimously approved
all the items for inclusion in
the city's budget.
Helps Fund Request
Brig. Gen. Clarke said.the APP
prevail by the commission will
help the District get the funds
from Congress. He said the
NCPC agreement to take more
care on the impact of new high
ways will mean less opposition
will result within the commu-
nifty.
Alexander C. Robinson III.
the Cleveland architect and
NCPC member who started the
move last month to take a
second look at the Inner Loop,
said when the vote was over
yesterday he is satisfied that
the general concept Of the free
way system is still valid.
But, he said, denomination
Of future portions of the free
way will be needed as they come
up. He said there will be "dif-
ficulty" in deciding on the
Northwest portions.
Mrs. Elizabeth Rowe. who
stepped into the Craftsmanship
of the NCPC during the high
way debate. said she feels the
commissions action will serve
as a safeguard" to make
certain neighborhoods will not
lose their. "livability" because
of massive highway programs.
I'VE will be taking a closer
look" she said. mot only at the
aesthetics but the impact on
the people affected as we'll"
Interchange Approved
After a morning long dis
cussion behind closed doors yes
terday. the NCPC approved con-
struction of the large inter-
change at Eleventh and K
streets, Sc. and the loop road
ways from the Theodore
Roosevelt Bridge to Maine
avenue. including a tunnel be-
meath the Lincoln Memorial
grounds.
1t also approved planning
funds for the East leg Of the
loop, which will tie into the
South leg through the big in
terchange. and planning funds
for the center leg to run North
ward into the heart Of the city
from the Southwest Freeway.
Mrs. Rowe abstained from
voting on the center leg item,
explaining later that she OPP
poses the downtown freeway.
1t is to include q tunnel be-
meath the Mall and has met
with opposition on Capitol Hill.
The NCPC took no action on
the proposed Three Sisters Is
land Bridge yesterday. 1t al
ready had approved q month
ago q 50 million budget item
for start of construction Of the
Potomac River span, to cross
upstream from Key Bridge, and
this approval remains in eff
feet.
A one4year delay on con-
struction of the Three Sisters
Bridge and the Southeast m
terchange was suggested by C.
Darwin Stolzenbach, head of
the National Capital Transpor-
tation Agency. He said his
agency should be given the
time to draw up its report on
a rapid transit system which is
now under study.
Points to Impact
Mr.. Stolzenbach stated that
the NCPC action has called
attention to the need for I'M
derStanding the impact OF Cthe
Southeast interchange on the
surrounding community"
In approving the Inner Loop
projects. the NCPC stipulated
that before the District adver-
tises for bids on the construc-
ton of the interchange. a
model showing the east leg and
the interchange be submitted
for approval.
Architectural plans for both
the interchange and the east
leg are to be submitted to the
NSrC peIore eacn project is
to be initiated.
He said yesterday that the
commissions action Is directly
in line with our intentions"
Commencing the NCPC for
their approval action, the Dis
trict division of the American
Automobile Association stated
all sides can now go ahead
with plans for balanced trans
portation system of rapid rail.
transit. freeways. bridge and
facilities"
o. Roy Chalk. president of
D. c. Transit. said any delay
In the loop timetable would