Evening star., 1942-08-13
Alternate Bus
Plan Adopted
ByCon1niissiion
County Unit Asks
Added Staggered
Off-Hour Service

| SII-lIVOI SCI IVIAG
Following a three-hour hearing
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 Utilities
Commission unanimously approved
counter proposal to the Van Duzer
plan, as it relates to Virginia, which
was recently submitted by the
Washington Regional Committee of
Defense Transportation.
The commission, however, noted
several exceptions, including length
ening of the morning peak hour to
9:45 instead of $50 and, with re-
spect to Saturday, held that it
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.
oH nOuT ScTtlCc.
A proposal that the Arnold Bus
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 Regional Committees plan
also proposed that Arlington passen-
gers, during the non-rush hours,
board Capital Transit Co. streetcars
at Rosslyn, Va, on free transfers,
and that the same procedure be fol-
lowed for passengers travelling into
Arlington over the Washington line.
The plan suggested that 80 per
cent of the Arnold buses which nor
mally operate over Key Bridge be
rerouted over Memorial Bridge on
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 100000 bus
miles annually under the plan. In
addition, the proposed route would
relieve the Capital Transit Co.,
which now operates 33 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 a
solution which appears to be very
satisfactory arrangement"
John Paul Jones. Arlington at
torney who participated in the hear
ing, suggested that any deadline for
buses which are to be turned back
at Rosslyn should be established at
the beginning Of the run of zach
bus, in order to avoid split minute
decisions at Key Bridge.
Driver PaX-Provisions.
Harry NJ Hancock, Arnold bus
driver and treasurer of the union
local in the company, asked what
provisions had been made for driv-
ers' salaries when runs are cut.
Mr.. Diehl replied that Joseph B.
Eastman. director of the Office of
Defense Transportation, already has
made two statements suggesting
that employers and employees get
/ together so that drivers will get a
commensurate share of the savings
to be effected by the plan
Mr.. Hancock replied that unless
something is done, there will be no
drivers because they are going some
where else for better jobs.
S. T. Linnard, a citizen, brought
up the question of buses being
marked either Tenth and E streets
NV. or Key Bridge, according to
their destination.
Counterpart Praised.
P. M. Goldman, representing the
Fairfax Federation of Citizens AS
sociations. expressed his satisfaction
at the elasticity of the counter
plan. He was joined by Julian G
Simpson. representing the Airing
ton County Civic Federation, and
F. P. Hornibrook. chairman of the
Public Utilities Committee of the
Civic Federation.
Paul A. Hill, secretary and gen.
eral manager of the Arlington
Chamber of Commerce. expressed
appreciation on behalf of the cham
ber for the attitude of the COM
. mission in acting on this plan
which he described as a fair com.
, promise made necessary by the war.
In response to question by Mr.
| Goldman, Mr.. Diehl said the right.
: of the Arnold Bus Co., in his esti.
nation, are completely preserved
> with regard to its franchise to entel
the District of Columbia by th'
rotioy, of h,lSes during the rIlSf