Evening star., 1941-02-12
Hearing 10 Reopen
On Crosstown Bus
Tomorrow at 1::30
Advocates Of Proposed
Line Clash Over Route
At First Session

Debate over the proposed estab-
lishment of a croSstoWn bus line,
and if there is one what route 1t
should follow, will be resumed be-
fore the Public Utilities Commission
at 1:3O pm. tomorrow Many ad-
ditional witnesses are expected.
A contest between civic groups
over the choice of route began at
the initial session yesterday after
noon, with Nathan NJ. Lubar as
spokesman for 81 groups urging a
Military road link and with Louis
I. Obergh, representing the Fedora
ton Of Businessmen Associations
and others, favoring Porter street,
Klingle road and Park road as the
keys to the crossing of Rock Creek
Park.
Indications that a three -cornered
issue may develop were seen when
S. R. Bowen of counsel for the
Capital Transit Co. said the COM
pany feels there is not enough de-
mand in patronage at this time to
justify either route. He predicted
the line would operate at loss
which would have to be met out of
revenues from other routes.
Favors Klingle Bridge Route.
Mr.. Bowen suggested also the
company would prefer the lower, or
Klingle Bridge. connection if the
commission should order a cross
town route, since areas to be served
were more thickly populated
Advocates of the lower route. who
have not yet had a chance formally
to present their case, received some
thing of a setback at the beginning
when District Highway Director
H c. Whitehurst advised the COM
mission that none but the ightest
of transit company busses should
be ordered over the Klingle road
span over Rock Creek The bridge.
of transit company buses should
not be permitted to carry load Of
more than 10000 pounds. Further.
he added, the span is but l9 feet
wide and is not desirable for use by
passenger buses.
The Highway Department plans
to replace the span with grade
separation structure, along with
construction of new approach roads.
but funds for this work are not in
cluded in the pending 1912 District
budget and Capt. Whitehurst es-
timated erection Of the new bridge
would take about 10 months after
agreement was reached on plans
and after money was made available.
Delay Draws Protest.
Mr.. Obergh suggested in reply
that business interests would be
willing to sponsor an appropriation
for the purpose. Military road
route advocates protested against
the necessary delay in getting action
and Mrs. Isabel Moore of 31O6 Chain
Bridge road NV. said: IF we can't
use Klingle Bridge now, why worry
about it," She favored the Military
road route, but suggested a change
. that some of the crosS-t town
bGSes would be operated to Conduit
road at the western end.
Mr.. Lubar, who heads the citizens
associations Steering Committee,
said the membership of 27 associa-
tions in this group favoring use of
Military road totals approximately
10000. Forty-SiX civic or other
groups, he added, have sponsored
establishment of some cross town
bus route.
Richard A. Finn, also of the Steer
ing Committee, said "a minutes is
required now to travel from West
moreland Circle to Bladensburg
road and South Dakota avenue
N. E., allowing only reasonable
time for transfers, and that five bus
and streetcar lines must be used.
The trip could be made in 80
minutes on the proposed cross
town bus line.
Ernest F. Henry, representing the
Petworth Citizens Association, ar
guing for the Military road link,
said it would serve areas having a
population of 100000. He said
traffic flow" maps, which had been
introduced by Capt. Whitehurst
showed a great many persons wish
ing to travel across the upper
reaches of Rock Creek Park. Com
pany Counsel Bowen argued that
the upper proposed route did not
pass by large business or Govern
nent n1aceS nf work