Evening star., 1961-11-06
Trade Board Urges
Inner Loop Speed
Road Program
Delay Opposed
BY Directors
BY GILBERT GIMBLE
Star staff Writer

MAb4AOub OCldJ, IllC MCbIOpOll-
tan Washington Board Of
Trade urged today.
The trade boards directors
adopted a report from the
groups transportation COM
mittee which made q three
point argument for moving
ahead with the loop porject.
John W Thompson, jr.,
president of the board, said
the report will be submitted to
the National Capital Planning
Commission in time for con-
sideration at Thursdays meet
ing when the highway COM
troversy is discussed.
In today's action, the board
reaffirmed its earlier position
that transportation planning
and improvement in Metropol-
itan Washington should pro-
ceed concurrently with respect
to highways, mass transit and
off-street parking"
Opponents Seek Delay
Opponents of the loop prof.
ect have argued that some road
building inthe District should
be halted to give the National
Caital Transportation Agency a
chance to come up with a de-
tailed plan for rapid transit ia
cilities for the region. They ar
que that rapid transit lines may
eliminate need for parts of the
loop program and other free
ways.
Last month the NCPC voted
to defer until Thursday a de-
cision on four Inner Loop
budget items for which the Dis
trict Commissioners intend to
seek congressional approval
next year to continue Inner
Loop construction and plan
ming.
j. N. Robertson, chairman Of
the boards transportation COM
mittee and former District
highway director. said the
highway program should con-
tinue without delay.
Were far enough behind
now" he added.
Bridge Part Of System
c. Darwin Stolzenbach, head
of the transportation agency,
last week urged that a one
year delay be imposed on con-
struction of an Inner Loop in
terchange in Southeast and the
proposed Three Sisters Island
Bridge to cross the Potomac
River upstream from Key
Bridge, which is also part Of
the loop system.
Mr.. Robertson said the
boards directors did not spe-
officially refer to the Three
Sisters Island Bridge since the
NCPC had not raised any ques-
ton concerning it.
But, he said the boards ap-
proval of his committee report
calling for continuation of the
highway program also means
approval of the Three Sisters
bridge.
The boards report included
the argument that "all inter-
state highway construction has
been or is being planned on
the assumption that the Inner
Loop will be built" This sin-
wolves planning of both Mary
land and Virginia highway
agencies.
Points Listed
The board report pointed
out:
l. "The Inner Loop is neces-
sary to meet the future traffic
requirements of the District"
Studies have shown need
for the Inner Loop plus radial
highways even with the full
utilization of the contemplated
mass transportation facilities"
suggested in the $3.50, 900 Mass
Transportation Study report.
The report noted that there
will be about l million motor
vehicles in the Washington re-
gion by 1880 compared to
about 100000 at present.
1T is, therefore, clear" the
report said, that the need for
the projected highway and
Inner Loop system will remain
even though significant addi-
tional mass transit facilities
are provided"
Q. THE Inner Loop is an
element Of the National System
of Interstate and Defense
Highways, and 1t is a part OF
a Nationwide plan which is
considered to be vital to United
State defense planning"
8. The Inner Loop has been
zone of the fundamentals in
planning" for the District for
the past decade and approved
as such by the National Capital
Planning Commission.
"On the basis of this &C
cepted concept, numerous COM
mitments have been made
without grievous consequences"
the report said.
Among these commitments
are those made to the Re-
development Land Agency
based on the Southwest Free
way as being part of the Dis
trict's financial contribution
to the Southwest redevelop-
ment area.
The freeway can function
fully only when linked up, and
without such linkage the COM
mitment to the Southwest re-
area will not have