Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-11
Road Bureau Prods
D. c. on Slow Pace
Fund Cutoff
limited Unless
Jobs Advance

and has informed the District
it may be denied any further
Fe deral interstate highway
funds unless work is started
soon.
Rex Whitton, administrator
of the bureau, said the District
was informed there Is a posi-
bility it might have to refund
the approximately $50 million
that was advanced by the Fed
eral Government for roads and
bridges already under con-
struction or completed in the
interstate system.
Brig. Gen. Frederick j.
Clarke, Engineer Commissioner,
confirmed that he had met last
week with D. Grant Mickle,
deputy Public Roads admins
traitor and Chief Engineer
Francis C. Turner to discuss
NAAC 41AlJdooC.
They are concerned about
this" Gen. Clarke said. Some
of our projects are out on a
limb. They have to get a COM
plete system. But there was no
threat to cut off Federal aid.
We just talked about the situa-
ton and the possibilities"
Ask Action on Loop
Mr.. Whitton said there is q
possibility that the bureau may
have to act unless the District
gets along with its portions Of
the Inner Loop.
I'VE discussed this with the
District" Mr.. Whitton said,
but there was no ultimatum.
We set no date for them. We
also cannot roll up the high
ways that are already there.
I'VE just said to them: Here
are some things you ought to
think about. Some day you
just have to finish your PLAN
ming and start to work. If we
can't get a highway through
the District. I don't know if we
should build roads into the
District"
The public roads admin
istrator pointed out that the
new Highway Bridge has been
built and work is well under
way on the South Leg South
west and Southeast) freeway.
THE Inner Loop was agreed
to as part Of the interstate
highway system" Mr.. Whitton
said. IF we build the South
Leg and can't complete the
other ones, then the South Leg
is not properly designed. We
have to have a balanced road
system"
Suit Seen unlikely
Gen. Clarke said the bureau,
which pays 80 per cent of the
cost OF any roads that form
part Of an interstate system,
is concerned"
However" he added, 81
can't imagine the Federal
Government suing the District
for a refund and then the Dis
trict going to Congress to ap-
propriate the money to pay
up"
Mr.. Whitton said, I'VE have
had no falling out with the
District. Well continue to
work together" But he made
it clear that the Federal funds
are available for use only in
interstate systems, not local
spurs, and if a road network
turns out to be not a part of
an interstate system, the bu-
reau has to request return of
its funds.
Gen, Clarke indicated the
District would be hard put to
make any refunds, but he said
there was no discussion at the
meeting Of diverting any re-
FUND from schools and other
city services.
Hits Many Obstacles
The road network program
is encountering many snags,
both on Capitol Hill and among
the public. One House sub
committee recently cut from
the Districts 1868 highway pro-
gram funds to build parts of
the Three Sisters Bridge, North
east Expressway and the Inner
Loop. all in the interstate sys-
tenn. And last week, another
House subcommittee ordered
the city to hold up on Inter-
change C and the East and
Northeast legs of the Inner
Loop to await a mass transit
plan being prepare by the Ma
tional Capital Transportation
Agency.
II the bureau declared the
Districts projects ineligible for
30 per cent aid, it still would
provide so per cent of the cost
because its policy is to provide
half the cost Of major roads
serving local needs. However.
such a change from colo to
$3.50 would face the District
with the need to pay an addi-
tional 40 per cent instead of