1614                             JOINT RESOLUTIONS

No. 42
(House Joint Resolution 46)

House Joint Resolution requesting and urging the National Capital
Planning Commission and the Maryland-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission to take such steps as are necessary to allow
for the widening of the Capital Beltway, Interstate Route 495,
through Rock Creek Park in Montgomery County between Georgia
Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue so as to provide safe roads for
persons to travel upon.

Whereas, The Capital Beltway in Maryland is part of Interstate
Route 495 which encircles the metropolitan area of Washington,
D. C, a three-mile portion of which passes through the Rock Creek
Park from its intersection with Georgia Avenue to its intersection
with Wisconsin Avenue; and

Whereas, The Rock Creek Park is under federal jurisdiction as
to grade, alignment, and design due to its extension into Montgomery
County by the authority of the Capper-Cramton Act of 1931; and

Whereas, Any widening or alteration of this six-lane divided
highway will require the approval of both the National Capital
Planning Commission and the Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission; and

Whereas, The Maryland State Roads Commission is presently
desirous of widening the entire Maryland section of Interstate 495,
consisting of some 42 miles of road, which widening has been oc-
casioned by the increased travel upon said route; and

Whereas, The three mile section of this route, passing through
the Rock Creek Park carries more than 50,000 cars daily which
represents the highest volume on this highway; and

Whereas, In a report to the Congress of the United States by the
Comptroller General it states traffic estimates indicate that this sec-
tion of Route 495 will be one of the more heavily traveled sections
of the Beltway carrying approximately 100,000 vehicles a day by
1975; such traffic, according to engineering concepts, would sub-
stantially exceed the ability of a six-lane highway to carry traffic
adequately; and

Whereas, The effect of the widening would displace no families;
nor would thereby make appreciable change in the topography of the
area; and

Whereas, The widening would speed commuter and Interstate
Route 70S traffic into metropolitan Washington and the outlying
suburban areas; and

Whereas, This three-mile piece of road transversing the Rock
Creek Park, because of its geometric design (often referred to as
rollercoaster effect) is already considered to be dangerous, having
contributed to many fatal accidents; and