Evening star., 1936-10-25
BUS OPPOSITION
IN TAK0MA GROWS
Maryland Citizens Planning
Mass Meeting to Ask
to Keep Street Cars.


The Takoma Park, D. C.-Md., CIT.
liens Association and the Town
Council of Takoma Park, Nd, have
joined forces with the Brishtwood
Citizens Association in the fight 10
prevent substitution of buses for
street cars between Carroll and Laurel
avenues at the District line and Four
teenth street and Colorado avenue via
Third and Kennedy streets.
Action was taken in the interest OF
several thousand residents on the
Maryland side of Takoma Park. who
daily patronize this line, despite the
numerous complaints that the street
car service Is demoralized. The Ia
koma Park Association expressed its
opposition to removal Of the tracks in
a strongly worded resolution, stressing
that the organization had been given
to understand that the much-adver-
tised changes In the tracks and rout-
ings to the center of the city would
result in an improved service. The
association has consistently opposed
any proposal to eliminate or reduce
the street car service from the Mary
land line and in its efforts has been
supported by the community of 5000
persons. Oficials believe If there is
an improvement in rail service 1t
would increase the proportion Of
street car riders.
Details Of Proposal.
According to the proposed plan,
shuttle buses are to be operated
from the terminus of the electric line
at Carroll and Laurel avenues to
Fourteenth street and Colorado ave-
nue., where waiting station is to be
erected for passengers. The route
to be followed would be the same as
that of the electric line, south on
Third street and west on Kennedy
street to Fourteenth street. Another
unsatisfactory point TO which atten.
ton is called is that it is proposed to
operate the busses on a 15-minute
schedule, which suggestion is not even
favorable to the small group Of citi-
zens' associations which are urging
installation of busses. In a recent
conference with traction officials rep
resentatives of this group we're as
sured that the schedule would be on
a l0-minute basis.
Even with the present morning and
evening express bus service between
Takoma Park and the center of the
city, many are left at the Takoma
Park terminus and are compelled to
take street cars, owing to the crowded
condition of the buses, which make
% trips in the mornings. With the
busses crowded when they leave Ia
koma Park, residents of Brightwood
complain they are unable to board
the busses as they travel through the
Brightwood area. Those who are left
on the street corners then take the
Kennedy street cars. The Takoma
Park and Brightwood associations are
the Oldest in their respective COM
munities and feel that their appeal
for retention of the rail system
should receive consideration. They
are each nearly half century old.
Mass Meeting Planned.
The Town Council Of Takoma Park
plans to take prompt action in the
matter and details are now being
worked out for mass meeting Of its
citizens to be held at an early date.
Councilman Chester C. Waters, who is
chairman of the Public Utilities Com
mittee of the Takoma Park Citizens
Association was appointed last week
to call a conference of all civic Or
ganizations in the town on the Mary.
land side, to be followed by the pub
lie meeting.
Mayor John r. Adams feels that
Maryland citizens, who it is said pro.
vide approximately IS per cent of the
Takoma patronage of the transit COM
pany, are entitled to recognition. At
the present time the rails of the COM
pany extend over into the center of
Carroll avenue. which is well over on
the Maryland side beyond the District,
line and is under supervision of the
Town Council.
Several organizations in the past
have adopted resolutions opposing the
abandonment of the Third and Ken
nedy streets line and there is pos
sibility that action will be taken at
early meetings of the Takoma Park
Chamber of Commerce, the Com
munity League of Takoma Park and
other civic organizations in connec-
tion with the mass meeting.