Evening star., 1935-02-13
REROUT|NC STUDY
BEGUN BY BOARD
Relief of Seventh Street
Congestion Proposed in
Georgia Avenue Shift.

The Public Utilities Commission to-
day began serious study Of proposals
for further improvement Of transpOr-
tation in the northern section of the
city to tie in with orders issued yes
terday for establishment Of an express
bus service from Takoma and track
changes TO permit more direct street
car routing from that area to down.
town.
The specific proposal now under
study calls for a street car track con-
nection from Georgia avenue TO Elev-
enth street. via New Hampshire ave-
nue.. This would make possible a
routing of some of the Georgia ave-
nue. cars down Eleventh street to re-
lieve congestion on Seventh street
The principal objective Of such
plans is development Of an express
street car service on Eleventh street
south of Park road. This suggestion
was made some time ago when mass
of rerouting plans was presented to
the commission and action had been
deferred until other major changes
we're decided. A part Of the plan
would be institution of a local bus
operation to supplement service in the
stretch where the street cars would be
express during rush hours.
Protest by Roberts.
Peoples Counsel William A. Rob-
erts today protested against one phase
of the commissions orders of yeSter-
day which provides for a 1O-cent cash
charge for service on the new Takoma
express bus line which is TO be oper-
ated down Thirteenth street. This bus
line, to be operated by the Capital
Transit Co, would run express below
Thirteenth and Madison streets.
Roberts said he saw no justification
for 10-cent fare and argued that
street car token should be sufficient.
Members of the commission. however,
held a 10-cent charge would be rea-
sonable. pointing out that the express
service would be a special service more
desirable than regular street car trans
portatiOn. Roberts said he would not
object to a l0-cent charge for tenn
porary period if it was designed only
to keep too many street car patrons
from deSerting that transportation unit
in favor of the busSeS.
The commission has set no time
limit on the 10-cent charge, stating
problems of the future will be met
when they arise.
The fact that the Utilities Commits
sion ordered the street car company.
rather than the Washington Rapid
Transit Co., to establish the Takoma-
express bus line. caused speculation
today. Some observers said this move
would serve as lever against the
efforts of the Capital Transit Co., to
pay S843.25387 for acquisition of the
Washington Rapid Transit Co. This
purchase plan has been rejected by
the commission and the company has
appealed to court to have the order
set aside. The commission will fight
the counter move at court.
Departure From Policy Charged.
On the other hand. one observer
said today the commission had de-
parted from its policy of consolidating
bus expansion programs in the Capital
Transit Co. by directing the bus COM
pany to extend bus service from
Sherman Circle to Chillum Heights.
The bus company now operates a
line to Sherman Circle. The record
revealed today that one engineer had
advised the commission the order
granting the bus company the right
to extend that service was not lin
harmony with the development Of a
unified transit system at the highest
economy and with the city-wide
service"
Engineers figured roughly today
that the commissions orders of yes
terday for track changes affecting
the street car line to Takoma, the
removal of tracks in Kennedy street
between Georgia avenue and Four
teenth street, development of a new
off-street turn-around track at Four
teenth and Kennedy streets and the
establishment of the Thirteenth
street express bus would cost roughly
100000 SpecifidAstimates, however,
have not been drawn.