Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-17
BUS IMPROVEMENT
ON CONNECTICUT
PRAISED BY KEECH
Utilities Commission Is Sat-
isfied by Changes in
Schedule.
81 VEHICLES ADDED;
LOOP SERVICE BETTER
Dispatches Placed at Strategic
Points to Acquaint Patrons
With Routes.

The three-day-old bus service re-
placing street cars on Connecticut
avenue north of Calvert street was
revamped to such an extent today
that Public Utilities Commissioner
Richmond B. Keech. who yesterday
strongly criticized the system, com
pllmented the Capital Transit Co. for
IAN astonishing improvement" and
said more than adequate transporta-
ton was being provided.
Thirty-two more buses were placed
III service and northbound trips from
Rock Greek loop at the east end Of
the Calvert Street Bridge were more
than doubled The loop service was
the chief cause of complaint yeSter-
day
There were other changes involving
rerouting adjustment of starting time
and revision of schedules.
Calls improvement Remarkable.
THE improvement since yesterday
is remarkable" Keech said after a
two-hour inspection. There is no
question but that the company was
affording adequate transportation
The buses were well spaced today
and there was actually more than
enough service at some points.
Following Keech's suggestion yes
terday that more equipment be placed
in the Connecticut avenue service, the
transit company increased the number
Of buses to nearly 100. AS a result.
the curb loading stations were much
less crowded during the rush hour this
morning. Despite the additional
equipment, there was comparatively
little confusion at Chevy Chase Circle
and the Rock Greek loop, principal
terminals of the new line.
A score of dispatchers we're sta
toned at important terminals todsF
to speed up the service and acquaini
patrons with the new routes.
as More Loop Trips.
The situation at Rock Creek looT
which yesterday made numerous serv-
ants northbound to homes above CAL
vert street and in Chevy Chase late
to work, was adjusted today to Keech' S
! satisfaction. Buses starting north
from this point made 4S more trips.
To take care of the heavy evening
/ traffic at this point, the company
ordered AnacoStia and Congress
Heights buses, northbound. to turn
of at AShmead place and into the loop
instead Of crossing the Taft Bridge
! Keech said that from 4:30 to pm
| yesterday the service was function
ing perfectly" in so far as residents Of
the District we're concerned.
Elimination of express service prior
to 1870 am. caused some annoyance
today to persons starting from Chevy
Chase Circle, but these were COM
paratively few and officials felt that
the small pay loads prior to 7:3O
O'Clock did not justify the service
Earlier local buses required II to Is
minutes longer than the expresses. but
company officials said that was &C
/ cording to schedule.
The additional equipment put or
this morning also will operate durin
! afternoon rush hours.
Keech said he was impressed by the
/ flexibility of the bus service He point =
ed out that it was possible to divert
buses from their scheduled route to
another in order to accommodate
waiting crowds and prevent confu
sion. This would be impossible with
street cars. he said
VehicuIar Traffic Improved.
81 also was impressed with the fact
that general vehicular traffic was NOV
ing along Connecticut avenue with
much greater freedom and ease,
Keech said.
He suggested that to improve the
condition still further it might be
wise to prohibit parking on the west
side OF Connecticut avenue during
morning rush periods and on the east
side during the late afternoon.
Workmen were removing overhead
trolley cables along upper Connection
avenue today, having already taken uD
the iron ,domes on street car safety
zones and ripped out raised plat :
| forms
Some confusion over the new bus
routes still persisted among patrons
today and now and then a bus would
be hailed only to have the driver tell
the commuter it wasn't the bus he
wanted. Keech and transit company
officials believed, however, that the
public would become educated to the
system within week or two.