Greenbelt cooperator., 1942-05-01
Rationing Hits Drivers

tlOn.
Rationing Hits Drivers
The rationing of gasoline, which
will go into effect on May Is, to-
gether with the existing tire short
age, will break the backbone of
Greenbelt transportation, when
private automobiles are forced off
the roads leading out of town.
One of the chief objects of Mon
days meeting will be to set up
an active committee of citizens
whose job it will be to secure the
most favorable allowance possible
for local drivers when the actual
rationing of gasoline takes place.
Expansion of present bus service
to accommodate the increased
number of local residents who viii
have no other means of transpor-
tation, is expected to command
most attention at the meeting.
The committee which will be voted
to represent the town will prob
ably be empowered to negotiate
with the Capital Transit Company
for increased and improved bus
service. The present schedule, ac-
cOrding to best advlces, is hardly
enough to meet current require
ments and will be swamped when
Greenbelters abandon private cars
under the pressure of gas ration
ing. Citizens at the meeting are
expected to instruct the commit
tee members to insist on direct
service to central location in
Washington.
Big Crowd Expected
Officers of the Citizens AssO-
citation stress that the success of
the meeting and resultant action
will largely depend on the size
and spirit of the turnout Monday.
AS an example of what civic ac-
ton could accomplish they point
to the halt order issued on April
10, by the Public Service Commis-
sion, on a plan which would have
substituted shuttle bus lines for
through service on most of the
Prince Georges County Capital
Transit lines. Protests of Citizens
Associations caused last-minute
order cancelling the plan.
In contrast to previous functions
Mondays Citizens Association
meeting will start at exactly .
pm. There will be no door prize.
The order of business will be linn
tied to allow the widest possible
discussion of transportation In
duction of elected officers is sche-
duled for the close of the business
meeting after which refreshments
will be served.
Special Importance is attached
to the election of officers for the
citizens association on Monday,
since this is regarded as critical
period in Greenbelt's history. Ex-
pansion of the towns population
is repeatedly creating many new
problems in a number of fields
other than transportation Already
being felt, especially by residents
of the new defense homes, Green
belts growing pains, it is estimat-
ed, will cause serious difficulties
and shortages in local public and
social facilities. According to town
leaders, Greenbelt's greatest wOr-
ry is not the lack of expansion in
civic facilities but the gradual
breakdown which is taking place
now under the pressure of the war
emergency.
Difficulties Listed
Among the more prominent diff
ficulties now prevalent and expect
ed to grow worse, are listed the
lack of a local hospital, transpor-
tatior, an inadequate school sys-
tenn, and the general absence of
coordinated town activities. While
Mondays meeting will be more or
less limited to the transportation
question and selection of officers,
the Greenbelt Citizens Association
is expected to play an important
part in Greenbelt's future activi-
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