Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-17
BAN ON BUS LINES
|NCONCESTED ZONE
MAY Be INVALID
Order Prohibiting Stops and
Stations Not Signed by
Joint Board.
INTERSTATE COMPANIES
MAY IGNORE LIMITATION
Some Agree to Build Terminals Off
Streets. but Wont Leave
Downtown Section.


and the District Commissioners barring
the buses from the downtown section,
II was learned that doubt as to the
legality of the order has arisen at the
District Building.
re-reading of the order yesterday
shows 1t was promulgated by the Public
Utilities Commission, and not by the
Joint Board of Utilities Commissioners
and District Commissioners as nrovided
In the recent traffic act. In some quar-
tiers belief was expressed that the failure
of the District Commissioners to pat
ticipate in the PRONUNCIATION, although
they approved" the order, might de-
stroy its legality.
Plan Conference Today.
Representatives OF the two oficial
groups planned conferences today to
determine what steps may have to be
taken to reform the order.
Meanwhile officials of some of the
larger companies indicated they would
not abide willingly by the terms Of the
order
l.. C. Major, regional manager of the
Greyhound Lines said his company I'M
doubtedly would build an off-street
terminal in compliance with the order,
but that this terminal would be built
in the first congested area, despite the
fact that the Commissioners plan to
consign them to the second congested
zone
We have three or four places in the
first zone under consideration, Mr.
Major said "cut have not as yet de-
cided definitely where the terminal will
be located. We propose. however. to
build the terminal in the first zone and
then let the commission take court
action to GUST us If they see fit. They
NAV find their order is discriminatory
in that local bus concerns are not
affected. At any rate. I doubt If our
company will ever build a terminal out
Of the first congested zone. Such
step would be ruinous TO our business.
Officials of Great Eastern Stages. Inc,
said thew propose to sit tight at their
present location, l349 E street. At the
local Office it was said any decision as
to policy must come from the central
Office in Cleveland. 1t was stated,
however there was small likelihood the
concern would build a terminal in the
second congested area.
The local manager of the Nevin Bus
Line Edwards. said he did not
know what the attitude OF his company
would be in regard to the order.
Under the ruling yesterday none OF
the interstate buses, after August /.
1881. will be permitted to stop at curbs
to discharge passengers in the second
congested zone. although they will be
allowed to have terminals in the second
zone so long as the BUSES are kept
of the streets.
Suburban Lines Exempted.
The order does not affect bus lines
running to Alexandria. Hyattsville. Sligo
end other points which are considered
within the Washington metropolitan
district.
H.. atpIn al
whether on or off the street will be
allowed after April /, 1882, is bounded
by the east curb OF Seventh street, the
south curb OF H street from Seventh
street to New York avenue, the south
curb of New York avenue to Fifteenth
street. the west curb Of Fifteenth street
to PENNSYLVANIA avenue and the south
curb Of Pennsylvania avenue to Seventh
street.
The second zone in which terminals
will be allowed after August /. 1882,
only where the buses are kept off the
street is bounded by the north curb OF
L street and New York avenue from
Eighteenth to Fourth street, the west
curb of Fourth street from New York
avenue to l street, the south curb Of /
street from Fourth to Sixth street, the
east curb of Sixth street from MaSsa-
chusettS to Constitution avenue. the
Sixth to Fifteenth street, the west curb
of Fifteenth street from Constitution to
New York avenue, the south curb of
PENNSYLVANIA avenue from Fifteenth to
Seventeenth street, the east curb OF
Seventeenth street from Pennsylvania
avenue to G street. the south curb of
G street from Seventeenth to Eight
zenith street. and the west curb of
Eighteenth street from G to L street.
= Af off
minal facilities for the big interstate
buses was predicted today by Rich
mond B. Keech. peoples counsel, as
result of the order.
Keech said he did not know whether
the bus operators would erect one union
terminal or whether number OF small
bus stations would be created, but re-
CARELESS of the plans OF the operators
the object of his persistent campaign
has been achieve6-eiimination of the
big. cumbersome BUSES from the con-
gested downtown streets.
The bus order Is SO phrased, 1t was
pointed out. that the bus operators will
fave to establish off-street terminals,
or else load and unload passengers at
sidewalk terminals outside the con-
eested section. After July 81, next
year. the buses will not even be per-
mitted to stop In the second congested
zone north OF New York avenue to take
on or discharge passengers. The order.
however. permits the bus companies to
establish terminals in the second zone,
II the buses ere kept off the streets.
No terminals are to be allowed in the
downtown area where parking is pro-
hibited between 8 and $50 a.m.-the
section where nearly all of the inter
state lines have established ticket Of
fees and waiting rooms.
Drive Started Last Year.
Keech started his campaign for re-
moyal of the interstate BUSES from
the congested zone last November, and
recommended to the Commiss onerS and
the Utilities Commission the regulations
which are embodied in their Joint Or
der.
IT have not yet had time to tho
roughly study the regulations" Keech
declared, but I am satisfied they fol-
low In principle the ideas l had in
mind when I stressed the necessity g
barring the big busses from the BUS
ness section"
Within the last few years several at
tempts have been made toward the es-
tablishment of a union bus terminal for
the use of all interstate lines. and the
negotiations reached the point where
options were taken on several sites for
q building. As far as District author
tiles know. the steps were halted there
pending the outcome of the action OF
District authorities with respect to the