Evening star., 1935-10-19
ARTS COMMISSION
TO SCAN BUSPLAN.
Group to Consider Erection
of Terminals at City'S
Gates.

OdlCSs
Both the Fine Arts Commission and
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission are considering the
question of bus terminals at the va
rious entrances to the city.
The problem was projected into the
limelight today by the fight Of citizens
in the Chevy Chase. Md, area against
allegedly poor bus service north of
Chevy Chase Circle, the use of the
circle as an outdoor bus terminal and
the plan of the Capital Transit Co.
to construct a temporary shelter near
the circle.
H. p. Caemmerer, executive secre-
tary of the Pine Arts Commission. said
his organization will convene here No
vember 8 to consider this and other
problems. John Hanna, president of
the Capital Transit Co., is expected to
lay architectural plans for the struc-
ture near Chevy Chase Circle before
the commission. The Citizens Com
mittee of Section 2, Chevy Chase, Md,
in which half of the circle is located,
yesterday expressed the opinion they
would fight any proposition to build
terminal or shelter at the circle They
want the company TO use its property
at Chevy Chase Lake for that pur-
pose.
Offers Services.
Caemmerer telephoned Hanna and
suggested the commission could offer
valuable service free on the question
Of bus terminals. The commission
also is anxious to look at the Capital
Transit Co. plan for a waiting room
near the juncture of Wisconsin and
Western avenues
Any structure to be erected now,
at the District line and Wisconsin
avenue and on Connecticut avenue
north Of Chevy Chase Circle, will, in
Caemmerer's opinion, set the future
fashion for all similar structures at
all the entrances to the National
Capital. For that reason the COM
mission is insistent that bus waiting
rooMs will be not only of a fitting
architectural character, but in har-
mony with the surroundings and
meeting the wishes of the residents
in the sections served.
Bus Bunching Deplored.
Prominent Chevy Chase, Md, citi-
zens say the bus terminal on Con-
necticut avenue should be at Chevy
Chase Lake, not only giving better
service to residents living in nearby
Maryland, but in wiping out the pres
ent unsightly conditions around Chevy
Chase Circle. where buses are
punched while waiting to start on
their next trip. The understanding
Of the Chevy Chase residents is that
the Capital Transit Co. is projecting
a temporary shelter for bus passen-
gers in triangular plot of ground
just north Of Chevy Chase Circle on
Connecticut avenue. To this plan
the residents are strenuously object
ing.
The Fine Arts Commission will not
only consider the problem of bus
transfer points at the entrances to
the city, but the question of an ade-
quate downtown bus terminal, said
Caemmerer. Washington, he de-
clared, should have a union bus ter
minal comparable to that in Los
Angeles.
Confuses Tourists.
As the situation exists here now,
Caemmerer pointed out, there are
number of bus terminals maintained
by the different operating lines COM
ing into the city. This is not only
very inconvenient, but very confusing
to tourists who have to 60 from one
terminal to another to make their
trips, according to the Fine Arts Com
mission secretary.
He contends the Capitals union bus
terminal should occupy a whole city
block in the business district with
adequate facilities for public conven-
fence, as this would remove buSses now
occupying streets areas and causing
much trafic confusion. Caemmerer
said.
John Nolen, jr.. director of PLAN
ming OF the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, proposes
10 lay the whole bus terminal problem
before his organization probably at
its next meeting. He has been ad-
vised of the Capital Transit Co.'s
move to place q terminal at Chevy
Chase Circle. Much study will be
needed before Nolen will be able to
present q complete report, in which
he viii be assisted by members Of the
staff. It Is considered likely that the
commission will call upon its traffic
expert, Harland Bartholomew Of st.
Louis, to assist in one Of Washing
toms most pressing problems and an
adequate solution that will preserve
the dignity Of the National Capital
and at the same time give the best
service under modern trafic condi-
tions. -