Evening star., 1942-07-11
Opposition Growing
To Bus Transfers
Al District Line
PIon Assoi|ed by Arlington
Chamber of Commerce
Executive Committe

William A. Van Duzer, requiring
passengers on the Arnold operated
lines of the Washington, Virginia ~
MARYLAND Coach Co. to transfer TO
streetcars at Rosskyn Plaza, was OPP
nosed by another nearby Virginia
group today as plans were mace 10
Law the program before the airing
ton County Public Utilities Commls-
sion Monday night.
An estimated IS 900 Virginia pas
seneers would be required to trans
fer at the Virginia end OF Key
Bridge under the plan OF Mr.. van
Duzer. who submitted the program
as ONCE of Defense Transportation
administrator for the District as a
means of conserving gasoline ana
tires.
His report was made In response
to a resolution of the Transporta.
ton Co-ordinating Committee OF
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, which has ap-
proved it in principle and recon-
mended approval by the park anc
planning commission and the DIS
trict Public Utilities Commission.
Utilities Board to Meet.
Following action by the Arling-
ton County Board yesterday OPP
posing the suggestions with respect
to treatment of Washington, Viz
ginia and Maryland Coach Co. lines.
the Arlington Chamber OF Com
merce Executive Committee took
similar action.
Milton E. Diehl, special assistant
to ODT Director Joseph B. East
man, and a member Of the Arhng-
ton County Public Utilities Com
mission said today he will bring
the matter before the county
utilities group at meeting Monday
night in the courthouse.
Mr.. Diehl. who also has been
appointed by Gov. Darden as
Northern Virginia co-ordinator OF
defense transportation, said he Will
discuss the Virginia plan when a
meeting of the Washington Re-
gional Committee of Defense Trans
portation Administrators Is called
next week. The other members OF
this committee are Mr.. Van Duzer
and Ben G. wilkinson, transpor-
tation co-ordinator for nearby
Maryland.
Detailed Surveys Made.
At the time Mr.. Van Duzer was
making his studies, the District
Commissioners, the District Public
Utilities Commission and the Cap
ital Transit Co. were known to be
making detailed surveys to improve
TRANSPORTATION facilities and Mr..
Van Duzer consulted representatives
of all these groups.
AS far as could be determined,
however, neither Virginia bus lines
nor Arlington County government
agencies, including the county Pub
lie Utilities Commission, were con-
suited in preparation of the report.
Copies of the report have been sent
to the bus lines by the Park and
Planning Commissions Transporta-
: ton Co-ordinating Committee.
Mr.. Diehl said he was neither a
member of the Arlington County
Public Utilities Commission nor had
; he been named Northern Virginia
transportation co-ordinator at the
time of Mr.. Van Duzer'S studies and
had no comment on failure to con-
suit affected Virginia interests.
Each Virginia bus line has been
asked by Mr.. Diehl to give him their
views on the plan for submission to
the County Public Utilities Com
mission Monday.
Recommendation Called Unwise.
The only feature of the report
!, which Mr. Diehl would comment on
at this time was Mr.. Van Duzer's
final recommendation:
This program should be SUBJ
!, mitted to the Public Utilities Com
: mission with a request that it be
adopted at once and without public
hearing. 1t Is recognized that this
is contrary to the usual policy of
the commission, but it is felt that
such procedure is justified in view
; of the emergency character Of the
program"
To this. the Virginia transporta-
ton co-ordinator remarked, That
| is not very wise thing to do"
At the meeting of the Arlington
. Chamber of Commerce Executive
Committee. Eugene deHegh intro
duced the resolution, unanimously
passed, describing the plan as being
conducive to serious traffic conges-
ton with considerable loss of time
| fo Ay.1i aei
dents, in addition to increasing the
costs of transportation through the
payment of two fares.
Paul A. Hill, chamber secretary,
said appeals will be made to the
ODT directly and to the Interstate
Commerce Commission to uphold
present schedules.