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US-50 is (unsigned) interstate 595, which also leads into the District. Though not interstates, the B-W Parkway, and Suitland Parkway are virtually interstates with no trucks (which is antithetical to the constructing freeways in an urban environment, as taking such traffic off city streets ought to be their primary purpose). PA Av and Central Av (and I think Branch as well) have been proposed on and off for interstate-level service inside the Beltway on and off through the years.

I have never supported the North Central Freeway, though I have pondered some of the suggested alignment, and I have stated that IF 95 were to be connected through the city that this would be the most logical and least destructive alignment. I have never endorsed it. Any freeway improvement within the District of Columbia should focus on eliminating the dead-end stubs by directing traffic onto existing, connected freeways. Traffic should be mitigated with congestion pricing, and freeways should be utilized for their intended purpose, which was national defense, not commuting. The system was implemented by a former Army general before it was taken over and raped by the car manufacturing industry.

The North Central Freeway would induce traffic that would have a calamitous effect on the very positive development occurring in Chillum, Adelphi, and Langley Park as they are beginning to benefit from development in the adjacent traditionally planned cities of Takoma Park, Hyattsville, and of course NE Washington. The cost of constructing the freeway as you propose it (which would still induce the traffic) would put a grossly unnecessary strain on Prince George's already depleted transportation coffers.

by Dave Murphy on Feb 1, 2009 3:30 am • link • report