Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
House Unit Shuns Key Role
In D. c. Road Controversy
By LEE FLOR
Star staff Writer

uilIOcc Wdc uIlIdbGu al having
the highway controversy
dumped in its lap.
Representative hatcher, DEM
ocrat Of Kentucky and chair
man of the subcommittee,
stressed that the group was
not a policymaking committee
as far as the highway pro-
gram is concerned.
. Several times. committee
members indicated they did not
want to legislate any postpone
ment in the highway program.
Started May 81
The hearing report shows the
clash between the Commission
ers started on Monday, May 81,
as District officials were two
thirds finished with statements
supporting the highway budget.
Commissioner Walter N. To-
briner started by saying that
a highway program was needed
for the future of the city. A
summary of the testimony fol-
lows:
Mr.. Tobriner-I do feel that
some pause ought to be given
to the location of the east leg.
OF two routes considered, the
Eleventh street route is the
best.
There is a third choice which
would dislocate fewer families.
This would go along the park
way. past the stadium, into the
Arboretum and back -. to the
other line of the Inner Loop.
Mr.. hatcher - Do you want
the $546, ZOO for inter-
change &C" and $4,000 for
the east leg held in allegiance?
Mr.. Tobriner would have
to say so, sir.
Representative Rhodes, Re-
publican of Arizona - How
many families will be displaced
by the. two projects?
District Engineer Commits 9
sioner Frederick j. Clarke -
About $50 families. (
Mr.. Tobriner-That is only
part. I
Gen. Clarke - Mr.. Tobriner [
speaks, Of course, as only one
member Of the Board of Com
miSsioners.
Housing Help Unlikely
Mr.. Tobriner-The possibility
that the National Capital
Housing Authority will catch up
with the dislocatees from high
way construction is very remote.
Gen. Clarke - Very frankly,
we are talking of a three-year
delay as a minimum in the
highway program, with much
disadvantage to our neighbor-
ing States who are building to
meet us at the District line.
} While Mr.. Tobriner has dis
'cussed his concern about the
displaced families with me, I
must admit I am caught by sur
prise by his recommendation Z
that we abandon the progam 3
completely. n
Commissioner John B. Dun .
can = Being unprepared, the
only thing / could ask at this S
time is an opportunity to think p
it through further and submit q RI
statement for the record. b
(Mr. Duncan's later state A
ment-After giving this mat o
ter a great deal of thought, I n
agree with Mr.. Tobriner) r
FavOrs Redesign d
Mr.. Rhodes-To clarity the
disagreement. is Mr.. >Tobriner n
opposed to interchange &C" 9
Mr.. Tobriner-No. am in a
favor Of a redesign so it will i
be q T-shape' interchange. The Il
original interchange would take I
about 38 acres, and the rede- j
sign about % acres. 7
Mr.. Rhodes - Mr.. Tobriner,
this makes me wonder what l
you are for. ] know what you {
are against. Tell us what you
are for.
Mr.. Tobriner-I am for a re- /.
design Of interchange &C" and !
the running Of the east leg up
the parkway along the Anacos- i,
tia River.
Mr.. Rhodes - Mr.. Duncan,
what is your stand?
Mr.. Duncan-I do not look ,
toward disseminating a total
highway program which we all
have believed is a good pro-
gram. There should be tenn
porary delay while a restudy j
goes on.
Mr.. Rhodes-How long has
the Inner Loop been under
study?
Harold Aitken, District High
way Director-The Inner Loop
study was released in 1859.
Mr.. Rhodes - Mr.. Tobriner,
are you in favor of the center
leg of the Inner Loop?
Mr.. Tobriner-Deep down in
my heart. I am considering the
possibility of abandoning the /,
center leg. i,
Later testimony: y
Mr.. Rhodes-When was this
budget prepared? I
Mr.. Duncan-In November.
Mr.. Rhodes Il guess all three
of you supported the budget. y
Mr.. Tobriner-We did.
Didn't Know Extent
Mr.. Rhodes-Have those peo-
pie Just recently moved IN
there?
Mr.. Tobriner No, sir. I was
not aware of the extent of the
dislocation last November.
Mr.. Rhodes-Is your change
In position political?
Mr.. Tobriner No. It is the
greater part of my duty to re-
fleet the opinion of a substan-
tial and respected part of the
population of the city.
Mr.. Rhodes This plan was
l1rpnared in 1850 The 0nnoSi