Evening star., 1942-08-13
Alternate Bus
Plan Adopted
ByConn,iission
County Unit Asks
Added Staggered
Off-Hour Service

Off-Hour Service
Following a three hour hearini
At Arlington Courthouse last night
during which residents and repre-
sentatives of civic groups discussed
the proposed Arnold bus service re-
vision, the County Public Utilitie!
Commission unanimously approved
q counter proposal to the Van Duzel
plan, as it relates to Virginia, which
was recently submitted by tht
Washington Regional Committee o1
Defense Transportation.
The commission, however, noteo
several exceptions, including length
ening of the morning peak hour tc
9:45 instead of $50 and. with re.
spect to Saturday, held that II
should be treated separately be-
cause of halliday workers.
1t also recommended that if fur
ther staggering of hours proves
necessary. the peak period be ex-
tended still further to coincide with
the further spread of passenger
traffic.
Off-Hour Service.
A proposal that the Arnold Blu.
Co. curtail its non-rush hour service
between Virginia and Washington
"at the expense of the casual rider
was advanced yesterday by the
Regional Committee.
The plan suggested that 80 pei
cent of the Arnold buses which nor
nally operate over Key Bridge be
rerouted over Memorial Bridge or
return trips to Arlington during the
morning and afternoon rush hours
to relieve traffic to and from the
War Department Pentagon Build
ing.
ANY curtailment In transporta-
ton SERVICE" the committee said
should be made at the expense
Of the casual, non-rush hour rider
and not war workers."
1t was estimated that the bus
company could save 10000 bus
miles annually under the plan. In
addition, the proposed route would
relieve the Capital Transit Co..
which now operates 80 shuttle buses
over Memorial Bridge, it was pointed
out.
Rights and Responsibilities.
The Arlington Utilities Commits
sion also recommended that the
Regional Committee take all steps
within its power to assure appropri-
ate action by local and Federal au-
thorities to preserve present rights
and responsibilities of the bus COM
pany affected.
The action was taken by Milton
E. Diehl, acting chairman; w. Glen
Bixler and j.. Maynard Magruder,
with the two other commission
members, Mrs. Alma Ramsay and
Harry A. Grant, absent and not
voting.
At the beginning of the hearing
. letter from the State Corporation
Commission was read, which de-
scribed the counter-proposal as .
solution which appears to be a very
satisfactory arrangement"
John Paul Jones, Arlington at.
torney who participated in the hear.
ing, suggested that any deadline fol
buses which are to be turned bacl
ut Rosslyn should be established a
the beginning of the run of eacf
bus, in order to avoid split-minut,
decisions at Key Bridge.
Driver Pay Provisions.
Harry M, Hancock. Arnold bu
driver and treasurer OF the unior
local in the company, asked wha
provisions had been made for driv
ers' salaries when runs are cut.
Mr.. Diehl replied that Joseph 3
Eastman, director of the ONCE O
Defense Transportation, already ha
made two statements suggesting
that employers and employees &c
together so that drivers will get
commensurate share of the saving
to be effected by the plan.
Mr.. Hancock replied that unles
something is done, there will be n
drivers because they are going some
where else for better jobs.
S. T. Linnard, a citizen, brough
up the question Of buses bein
marked either Tenth and e street
NV. or Key Bridge, according t
their destination.
Counterplan Praised.
P. M. Gelbman, representing tn
Fairfax Federation OF Citizens AS
sociations, expressed his satisfactio
at the elasticity of the counter
plan. He was joined by Julian
Simpson, representing the AIRING
ton County Civic Federation, an
r. P. Hornibrook, chairman of tt
Public Utilities Committee of tt
Civic Federation.
Paul A. Hill, secretary and ger
eral manager of the Arlingto
Chamber of Commerce, expresse
appreciation on behalf of the chan
ber for the attitude of the con
mission in acting on this pla
which he described as a fair con
promise made necessary by the war
In response to a question by N
Gelbman. Mr. Diehl said the righ
OF the Arnold Bus Co., in his est
nation, are completely preserve
with regard to its franchise to ent
the District of Columbia by Il
operation Of buses during the ru!