Evening star., 1941-12-18
Cross-Town Bus
Line 10 Begin
January Is
Hunkin Threatens
Rate Inquiry if
Fare Pleas Continue

service as well as a through cross
town bus service will be instituted
at regular fares between Westmore-
land Circle and Catholic University
January %, under orders issued by
the Public Utilities Commission.
As forecast earlier, the commission
directed that the croSs-town line
follow in general the routes of exist
ing loop or shuttle bus lines so far
as they were applicable, using the
Porter street, Klingle road, Adams
Mill road crossing for Rock Creek
Park. The Military road park
crossing, Commission Chairman
Gregory Hankin has announced, Is
being reserved for a possible second
cross-toWn service later.
Rate Inquiry Possible.
Shortly after the orders were
issued Mr.. Hankin voiced a threat
of ordering a valuation and rate
investigation of the Capital Transit
Co. should its officials continue to
insist" that extra fares be permitted
for increased service on its lines.
When hearings were held on the
proposed cross-town bus service off,
cials of the company protested that
the line would be operated at loss,
rather than a profit, although no
official demand was made for a
straight 10-cent cash fare, observers
recalled.
Mr.. Hankin discussed this ques-
ton after yesterdays order was
issued. while emphasizing that the
commission was now concentrating
its attention on mass transportation
because of its necessity to give serv-
ice to war workers here"
He said: Usually time of emer-
gency is not TO be regarded as a
time for valuation and rate investi-
cations, but whenever we ask the
transit company to institute i'm
proved service or more rapid service
they bring up questions of straight
10-cent fare applicable TO those
lines, claiming the company is not
making a reasonable rate of return.
If the company forces us, we will
make rate investigation and will
not let this stand in the way of
having an adequate transportation
system"
E. D. Merrill, president Of the
transit company, declared later the
company had made no demand for
/ increased fare for a cross town bus
| line using the lower Rock Creek
Park route, although it doubted in
creased patronage to be expected
would cover increased costs. He sale
the company had requested a 10,
cent cash fare for the affected line.
if an express service were ordered
for the North Sixteenth street area
and for improvements in the Ia.
koma express bus service.
To Use Small Buses.
Referring to the croSS-town bu.
service. Mr.. Merrill said the COM
pany would make no objection, but
said he hoped the company could
get delivery before January 25 OF
25 new buses already ordered. tc
permit assignment to the new line
of small buses needed for the serv-
ice. Otherwise, he said, it would
be necessary TO rob" other lines
of small buses to provide vehicle,
for the croSS-town service. Large
buses cannot be used on the line
because of the size and strength OF
the old Klingle Bridge over Rock
Creek, in the park valley. The ecm-
pany, he said, hss ordered 225 new
buses which have not yet been de.
livered. Twenty-Five of these are
expected in January.
The cross-town bus line will follow
the following route; From West
moreland Circle, along Massachu-
setts avenue, Yuma street, Thirty
eighth street, Veazey street, Reno
road, Porter street, Klingle road
Adams Mill road, Irving street, Park
place, Michigan avenue and Monroe
street. and Seventh street north to
Michigan avenue. On the return
trip, the buses will 60 westerly
along Michigan avenue and Column
bia road to Warder street, north to
Irving and then over the eastbounc
route reversed to Westmorelanc
Circle.
This line will be operated on Is.
minute headWay, with probably mora
buses in rush hours.
Changes in Connecting Lines.
The present Warder street bus
line between the Catholic University
bus line and the Hawaii avenue
Rock Greek Cemetery branches oi
the Park road loop will be abol-
ished, but not other sections of these
lines, which will be continued a.
now, except that their services are
to be increased from 80 to Is min.
ute headways in regular service.
The company was ordered to oper.
ate the Hawaii avenue-Park roac
line as follows: From the termina
at Hawaii avenue and Allison stree
NE, northerly on Hawaii avenue
southerly on North Capitol stree
and Rock Creek Church road, ives
on Quincy street. Southerly on New
Hampshire avenue, west on Parl
road, north on Eighteenth street
west on Newton street, south or
Nineteenth street, west on Park roaC
and Klingle road, southerly OF
Adams Mill road, east on Kenyon
street, north on Eighteenth street
east on Lamont, northerly on Noun
Pleasant and Seventeenth streets
east on Monroe, northerly on New
Hampshire avenue, thence over Rocl
Greek Church road and North Capi
tol street to Hawaii avenue and ther