| Show stalled highway plan One of the disappointing notes from Washington is the announcement that the federal super highway program is not notto notto notto to be completed on the date originally anticipated It will be remembered that the long- long range federal highway program was to have have- been in being by 1972 Many thought this was a distant target date since it allowed about fifteen years or more from the time the program was decided upon And it is agreed among all the experts that the States is in critical critical cri cri- need of a modern and improved highway network Now facing the the- international crisis this country is currently confronted with defense and security needs and especially especial especial- ly those in civilian defense nse indicate that thata a federal highway network such as that envisioned under the super highway program program pro pro- gram might be needed well before 1972 But Congress is being told that it will now be 1980 before the grand program program pro pro- gram of modern through highways willbe will willbe willbe be completed This is true true- it is said by bythe bythe bythe the Federal Highway Administrator because because be be- cause Congress in a 1956 law required that the program be be- paid for as it was constructed rather than along the line lines of congressional authorizations The I states also pay a share share- of the construction costs This is a surprise to some Congressmen Congress Congress- men and a disappointment to defense officials officials officials of of- and many citizens In our opinion the program should be not t stretched out Even if loans must be made i or bonds floated the tho completion of the I super ay system in the United t States Is no longer of casual importance i It is now nosy a matter of vital urgency and considering the threat of nuclear at- at j tack which may kill tens of millions and t send scores of millions fleeing along the i highways Congress has no choice other than to take taka action at this session to see seeto i to it that bottlenecks and slowdowns are not allowed to postpone postpone- completion of the t highway program beyond 1972 Moreover d dif if completion date could be moved nearer it would be a n prudent step |
