Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-07
Route Approved

N~A~@ 80 ~A~A@0 NSAAONAs
Route Approved
AS recently as April of this
year, the NCPC approved the
route of the east leg Of the
Inner Loop, and the Northeast
freeway connecting it and the
third route to Baltimore.
But at its last meeting, on
October S. the NCPC voted 4
to for deferring the loop budg-
ct items so that q second look
could be given the belt express
way. Maker of the motion was
Alexander C. Robinson III, a
Cleveland architect appointed
to the NCPC in 1857.
Mr.. Robinson's motion was
seconded by Mrs. James H.
Rowe, jr., who recently was ap-
pointed by President Kennedy
as the first woman to serve
on the commission. Mrs. Rowe
will be acting chairman of the
commission at its Thursday
meeting.
Although the commission
voted to hold up on the four
loop items. the members went
ahead with approvals for sew
eral other District road prof.
ects including portions of the
loop.
They approved, for instance,
the Southeast expresSway from
South Capitol to Seventh street
and from Thirteenth street to
Barney Circle. They did not APP
prove the interchange. They
have okayed an expressway
with its center still to be de-
cided.
Would Check Impact
Mr.. Robinson said he voted
to hold up the specific loop
projects so that the commits
sion could turn its attention
to the impact on the city that
the eXpressways may cause.
IT think we ought to make
sure we are not going to spoil
Washington" he feels. and
points to the wide cuts" made
by expressways in Cleveland.
Mrs. Rowe refuses to elab-,
crate on her position regarding
the loop other than to point
out she agreed with Mr.. Rob-
inSon on taking a second look.
Following the NCPC vote, the
Fine Arts Commission issued
a statement praising the plan
ming commission for having its
doubts about the loop. The
fine arts group has tradition
ally opposed open cut freeways
in the city and has urged rapid
transit as the answer.
Then the move against the
loop began to grow into a move
against freewayS in general.
The Committee of 100 on the
Federal City urged that halt
be made on the Loop and re-
lated freeway projects not now
actually under construction.
In a 50-page report on the
Inner Loop, the Northwest
Committee for Transportation
Planning called for a stop on
road projects except for COM
pletion of those underway.
Architects Join
The American Institute of
Architects added its doubts
about the Inner Loop concept. |
Others Joined in.
For the most part the groups |
urging a go-slow attitude Sug-
gest that the transportation |
agency might come up with
a rapid transit system that
could mean the loop and other
freeways would not be needed.
They argue that the loop
concept is too old; that an
entirely new approach-reliance |
on rapid tranSit-may be the |
answer to regional and District |
traffic problems.
They say freeways are ugly |
and will ruin the beauty Of the
city, that they cause sociology
cal problems by uprooting fam
lilies and Fastening the exodus
to the Sprawling suburbs, that !
they result in revenue losses
to the city by eating up tax
able land.
All these impacts, they argue,
should be studied and definite
answers on what the costs
amount to should be had before
the loop is continued.
On the other hand, the high
way planners and their pro-
ponents argue that the loop
has been sound scheme since
its inception, that it is to be
the most attractive system of
freeways anywhere in the Ma
ton and that it is essential if
the District center is to retain
its economic health.
Trade Board Support
Yesterday the Metropolitan
Washington Board of Trade
strongly urged continuing the
loop on schedule. Planners for
downtown progress now study
ing ways of revitalizing the
central business area have been
relying on a center leg to give
quick access to the heart of
the city.
The Greater Washington
Central Labor Council voted |
unanimously last night to urge |
the National Capital Planning
Commission and the District |
Commissioners to go ahead
with their plans for the Inner
Loop.
j. c. Turner, council presi-