Evening star., 1942-01-22
Hankin Seeks Funds
For Study Of D. e..
Transportation
Considers Assessment
On Companies to
Roise $4,000

An early decision was anticipated
today by Chairman Gregory Hankin
Of the Public Utilities Commission
on means of financing a current
survey of Washington's mass trans
portation conditions which he has
planned rs a guide to changes in
use of facilities which may be Or
dered.
His request denied for q grant Of
$4,000 for this purpose from the
District highway fund, Mr.. Hankin
said the commission was consider
ing an assessment against trans
portation companies to cover the
cost Of the proposed comprehensive
investigation. He said decision or
this point may be reached today.
Meanwhile. as a means of COL
lecting origin and destination
data as to the riding habits OF
200, 900 or more Federal and District
Government workers, which he said
he would need in the survey, nc
matter how financed, Chairman
Hankin today called on department
personnel chiefs to cooperate in
having employees answer question
naires.
Time Data Sought.
His plan is for these thousands OF
Government workers to fill out and
return cards showing when they
leave for work, from what points
what form of transportation they
use and similar data as to their trips
back home. He hopes to find some
agency with punch-card machines
which can be used in assembling
the data thus obtained.
Possibility that some residents OF
outlying areas might use steam
railroad service instead of buses O,
streetcars to get to the business sec.
ton was mentioned by Mr.. Hankir
as one Of the changes that might
result from the survey. Such plans
together with the idea of deyelopine
q belt line railroad passenger serv.
Ice, were considered In recent
months by Highway Department of
nclals but without favorable actor
resulting.
In announcing his plans, Mr.
Hankin was somewhat bitter abo,,
refusal by the Commissioners r.
approve q suggestion that 5000
Ior the survey be taken from thu
District highway fund. Capt. H. G
Whltehurst, highway director ha,
contended his division will neer
more money than will be ayailabl,
from the gasoline tax and othe,
nlgnWay fund sources for the traffic.
reilef street and bridge programs o.
the District. ~
IN 1889 Highway Director White.
hurst made a traffic origin and des
tlnatlon survey. When the Com.
m1ssioners rejected Mr.. Hankin,
request for $4,000 from the hieh.
way fund for utilities commissio,
survey, the Commissioners were told
his proposed survey would disclose ,
change Of not more than IL pe]
cent from 1899. Mr.. Hankin scoutee
this suggestion, pointing to the in.
fux OF war workers and insisted
there was need for a current survey
Some officials, during this debate
over financing the commission
proposed study, have suggested tha,
agency has full authority in law te
levy assessments against utilities TO,
investigations and surveys of the
needs Of their services. Mr.. Hankir
said this question is under study
and that an answer may be ex.
pected soon, possibly today.
Figures Show Peaks.
Question Of further staggering O,
hours Of work for both Government
and private business workers wa.
raised by Mr.. Hankin when he called
attention to latest reports received
from Trafiic Director William A
Van Duzer showing when these EN-.
ployes report and leave their Jobs
These figures show heavy concen.
trations at some morning and eve.
ming rush periods.
The number of persons reported
to start work between z am. and /;
am, he said, varied from none Il
$500; whereas between 8 am. ans
8 am. the numbers ranged from
$4,000 to $4,000, for various IS
minute periods. There is q heav,
decline IN numbers reporting at 9:1!
and $50 am.
As to quitting time, the mos
startling increase Is from 4::45 pm
to 5 pm, when the numbers jum]
from II 1000 to 74,500.
Mr.. Hankin said these sets o
figures covered 20o, 900 Government
workers and 5000 private buSines
employees.