Evening star., 1937-06-20
TAK0MA BUS LINE
CHANGES SOUGHT
Improved Service as Well
as New Waiting Station
Asked by Citizens.


The Chamber Of Commerce Of Ia
koma Park, Md, has inaugurated
movement to secure improvement in
Takoma bus service and also the
station at the terminal at the Mary
land-District line. Transportation
matters we're discussed at a parley
held few days ago at which Capital
Transit Co. officials were present.
To this end tract OF land has
been recommended by special COM
nlittee Of the chamber to the transit
company which can be purchased at
this time and terminal building
erected. building, similar in type to
the ones at Fourteenth street and
Colorado avenue and Wisconsin ave-
nue. and the District line, would meet
with the approval of the citizens in
the Takoma area. Viewing it from the
standpoint that the buses are here
to stay, officials of the Chamber OF
Commerce feel modern structure
should be provided patrons of the
line.
Vaitink Slte MOVED.
President E. D. Merrill OF the
transit company invited the attention
OF the chamber officials to the fact
that when the trolley cars were
operated no shelter had ever been
provided and that during inclement
weather the citizens sought protec-
ton under store awnings at the end
Of
when attention was called to the
terminal of the new bus line, which Is
more than block distant from where
the cars stopped. This was directly
In front OF row Of stores and also
the point where the bus operating be-
tween the District line and the WASH
ington Sanitarium transferred pas
sengers. President Merrill assured the
chamber that the tract of land would
be inspected and consideration given
to the proposition of a waiting station
at the Maryland line.
An improved method of designating
busses entering the Takoma area was
also suggested as worthy OF considera-
ton by traction officials. At the pres
ent time letter and numeral adjoin
the designation on the front OF the
bus, but does not signify to the
passenger the route through the city.
There are two lines to the downtown
section, one with terminal at Laurel
avenue and the Maryland-D District line
and the other at Fifth and Dahlia
streets on the District side of Takoma
Park. Traction officials expressed
willingness to accept the suggestion
that they be marked "Takoma, Nd"
and "Takoma, D. c."
Removal of bus service on Ninth
street to Constitution avenue after
the rush hour" period at 8 o'clock,
chamber members said, had caused
much confusion. as residents were
carried down Thirteenth street to
Pennsylvania avenue when their OBJ
tective was lower Ninth street in the
business section. The other rush
hour" express service operates via
Fifth, Madison and Thirteenth streets
to the center of the city. Traction
officials explained that these two ex-
press services were for mornings and
evenings only and that midday serv-
Ice was confined to the Petworth and
Takoma lines and by routing the
busses down Thirteenth street, more
frequent service was available.
Stop Privilege Sought.
Another point which the traction
company is endeavoring to clear up
is the securing of special permission,
II possible, to allow busses to stop in
Maryland after crossing the District
line and recroksing before permitting
passengers to alight. At Takoma
Park the buses make loop around
the tract bounded by Sandy Spring
road, Carroll avenue, Laurel avenue
and Aspen street. II passengers were
permitted to alight at the intersec-
ton OF Carroll and Laurel avenues 1t
would eliminate retracing steps Of
nearly block and half from the
District line, where the busses termi-
nate, to- the Maryland shopping CEN
ter. When the electric line was in
operation, the cars stopped at this
intersection. The traction officials
explained that the reason buses did
not stop was due to tax Of 81 per
bus seat, which meant an annual tax
Of $3.50 for 40-passenger bus. Presi-
dent Merrill said that he was prepar-
ing to take the matter up with the
attorney general of Maryland, as the
States attorney at Rockville decided
against permission in the Chevy Chase
Circle instance. The residents OF
Chevy Chase were seeking the same
result, likewise in connection with q
waiting station on the Maryland side
The matter Of proper ventilation of
busses was also aired by chamber off,
Gals, and President Merrill announced
that the company had already ex-
pended the sum Of SIS, 900 in this con-
nection and that modern bus had
been shipped to a laboratory in New
Jersey to continue experiments. Ex-
tension of lines further into Mont
gomery County, with an ultimate
view of through service" to the CEN
ter Of the city and thus eliminate two
or more transfers, elected the fact
that 1t was not profitable to operate
large buses for only several miles
distance and, for the present, small
busses would be operated and transfer
OF passengers take place at the Dis
trict line. Oficias Of the Chamber
OF Commerce are hopeful that much
good will result from the recent
conference.