Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-31
Project Awaits Commissions
Plans for Regulating Lines
Entering City.
STEPS TAKEN TO ACQUIRE
OPTION ON SUITABLE SITE
Problem Of Control Will Come Up
at Public Hearing Sched-
uled This Week.

ly announces its plans for regulating
the 81 interstate bus lines operating in
and out of Washington.
This assurance has been given en-
Gals concerned with the interstate bus
transportation problem, 1t was learned
yesterday at the District Building. In
fact, steps already have been taken,
1t was said, to get an option en- suit
able site, where the terminal will be
built. II the bus operators agree to
use it.
The location sought for the proposed
terminal has not been revealed, but
District cficials believe the site desired
is near the business section and in
close proximity to Washington's lead
ing hotels. Neither have the interests
planning to finance the project been
disclosed, and the only inkling given
District officials is that the money will
come from New York
There have been persistent rumorS,
however. that the Pennsylvania Rail-
road was interested in the uni1n bus
terminal idea, but these have been met
with equally persistent denials. These
reports were to the effect that the rail-
road was the mysterious purchaser Of
the valuable property on the northeast
corner of Thirteenth street and Penn
sylvania avenue.
Other sites Mentioned.
Four other sites also have been men
toned as the probable location OF the
proposed terminal. These are IA the
vicinity of Thirteenth and H streets,
Eleventh street and New York avenue,
Tenth and E streets and Tenth and
@ streets.
Whatever the outcome of the nego-
tiationS for the erection Of terminal
might be, the Utilities Commission is
contemplating drastic action to Danish
the score of sidewalk terminals scat
tered throughout the business area and
keep the big interstate BUSES out OF
the congested zone. The plans OF the
commission will be unfolded this week
at public hearings 1t has called to con-
slider the problem of interstate bus
regulation and control.
Operators Of the 81 interstate lines
and the seven interurban lines have
been requested TO attend these hear
ings, at which, 1t is believed the steps
actually taken toward the construction
of a union bus terminal may be out
lined in detail.
At these hearings all phases OF the
bus operations from the standpoint OF
trafic interference. will be discussed
and consideration will be given to a
proposal Of the commission that the
interstate BUSES be prohibited from
entering the area bounded by Seventh
street on the east Seventeenth street
on the west, Constitution avenue on the
south and K street on the north.
Drastic. Step Held Unlikely.
The commission under the new traf-
fic act which becomes effective July !,
a. - ~ hn
buses out of this area by regulating
their routes through the District. Such
drastic steps likely would not be taken,
however, should the bus operators give
the commission definite assurance that
a terminal would be built where pass
engers would be loaded and unloaded
off the streets. In this event. 1t was
said. the commission might allow the
buses to run through the congested
section over a prescribed route, should
the terminal be located in this area.
The commission. it is indicated. will
be more lenient with the interurban
bus lines. realizing that the buses in
this service are accommodating resi-
dents of nearby Maryland and Virginia
who work in Washington and whose
places of employment are largely in
the so-called congested zone. In the
case of the interstate BUSES, however.
It was pointed out, there Is no actual
necessity for them to run through the
business section. as the passengers they
bring to Washington go in far-f1ung di-
rections after their arrival and the
point of declaration Is not important
to them.
Richmond B. Keech, peoples counsel
before the commission, who has urged
stricter regulation and control of the
interstate buses and the establishment
of a union terminal ever since he took
office, will take an active part in the
bus hearings. He plans to show the
hazards and the jams caused by oper-
alton of the big buses in the congested
zone, and the amount Of parking space
utilized by the big vehicles while BERTH
ed in Washington for a lay-over period.
Congestion within the downtown
area" Keech declared, renders 1t es-
sential that those in authority exert
all of their facilities to render the
highways and streets of the District
of Columbia more paSSable by remov-
ing things and obstacles which I'M
pede progress, and to see that certain
streets, more particularly those within
the strictly business district are re-
lieved Of all cumbersome vehicles, both
in movement and at rest, which must
not, of necessity. make use OF them.
Most notable among these are buses
used in the transportation OF persons
from one jurisdiction to another.
Mecca for Interstate Buses.
Washington has become mecca for
interstate buses. Operators OF these
buses have. through their desire to
compete more keenly with the steam
and electric railways, endeavored to
route their vehicles so as to pass
through the heart Of the downtown
section, making calls at the principal
hotels and ultimately reaching a fixed
point designated as depot.
Apart from the effect generally Of
these buses upon the safety and facil-
ity Of travel within the congested area,
the merchants of the business area, in
directly at least, suffer a loss Of rev.
enue due to the fact that many would
be" customers decline to attempt to
run the blockade created by the berth
ing of these vehicles within the con-
gested area and their circulation In
the principal downtown highways.
Necessity for regulation Of these
vehicles goes without saying.
"It is my belief that through the
wholehearted cooperation of the Public
Utilities Commission and the Commits
Sioners Of the District, the business
area may be relieved of the large
buses engaged in interstate commerce
and that the operators of them will,
within a short time, see the necessity
OF establishing a bus terminal. thus
permitting the streets Of the District of
a. HAw