Evening star., 1942-05-17
Hdnkin Outlines
transportation
Survey Plans
100000 to Be Quizzed;
Way Sought to Speed
Up Express Buses


An extensive origin-destination
survey will be launched within the
month by the Public Utilities Com
mission as a prelude to complete
revamping of the public transporta-
ton system to fit the pattern of a
wartime Capital.
No less than 100000 QUESTIONABLE
cards will be distributed to workers
in Government and private employ
ment in the District and nearby
Maryland and Virginia in an effort
to find out where people come from
and where they go during the rush.
hour periods.
A new method of bus operation
under which full express buses would
roll between specified work and resi-
dence areas by the fastest travel
route instead of by prescribed streets
was seer by Chairman Gregory Ham
kin as among the possible results Of
the study.
Representatives of Federal units
and private organizations have
promised full cooperation in the
investigation, Mr.. Hankin said, with
Federal agencies loaning the gang
punching" and "mark-sensing' ma
chimes to be used in codifylng the
data from returned questionnaires.
$2,5O0 assessment is being levied
against the Capital Transit Co. to
help pay for the survey.
State Cooperation Hoped.
Although the commission has no
Jurisdiction be!ond District boun-
diaries. MARYLAND and Virginia coun-
ties are being included in the hope
that cooperative moves by the
State authorities may bring about
improved service as far as 40 miles
from the Washington borders.
After an effective reorganization
Is accomplished to utilize present
transportation facilities to the ut
most efficiency, "the real need for
additional facilities, if there is such
a need, will become apparent" Mr.
Hankin observed
There is little doubt. he said
about the present system being in
adequate" and added that the tire
and gasoline rationing programs
were bound to make the situation
progressively worse.
Mr. Hankin plans to conduct his
survey as follows:
The person supplied with ques-
tionnaire would find blanks requir-
ing him to fill in his transportation
origin and destination during rush
hours. For purposes of uniformity
in answers to these questions, Mr.
Hankin is seeking publication of
maps of the District and surround
ing sections with blocked out num-
bered areas. Each citizen will be
urged to study these maps and be
prepared to use the numbers in
replying on the QUESTIONABLE.
Transportation Areas.
The District has been divided
into 1877 transportation areas,
nearby Virginia into IS and nearby
Maryland into 81 These areas, Mr..
Hankin said, were determined by
existing streets or roads over which
transportation facilities operate. or
could be operated, and by taking
1000 feet as the maximum for
walking distance to such travel
facilities
Each area is numbered. The
downtown congested section COM
prises numbers through AZ, these
areas being considered points of
destination in the morning rush
and points of origin in the evening.
The 100 to 200 area numbers are
in the Northwest; the 300 numbers
to the general Northeast; 400 401
and 402 to the far Northeast corner,
and the 500 and 600 numbers to the
Southeast and Southwest. The
congested area is considered between
the Capitol and Rock Greek.
Boy Scouts and the American
Automobile Association are to help
in the distribution and collection
of the missionaries In the case
of Federal Government workers Mr..
Hankin said he will be aided by the
Council of Personnel Administra-
ton and that Government officials
have agreed to check and correct
cards before they are returned to
the commission for tabulation.
Additional Details Promised.
The commission chairman prom
ised additional details later on the
QUESTIONABLE but said the public
will be asked to note on the card
the residence of the worker, the
residential area code number and
residential area code number, and
the most frequent method of travel
used going to and from work. He
said he would also ask that the
name of the person filling out the
QueSti0nnaire be put on the back
of the card as an aid to the Federal
agencies in pushing Share Your
Car" program.
The queStionnaire itself does not
call for signature, he said, but since
the Government agencies are being
surveyed to extend joint use of
cars, the name would help that
program although it would not be
used in the commission study &.
Officials of the Federal agencies
and private business concerns are
being asked to supply the commits
sion information On the Identities
of the various departments and
divisions, their locations, the num-
ber of persons working at each To-
cation, and the name and Office ad-
dress of persons designated to take
charge of distributing and collect
ing the missionaries Co-opera-
tion of the Board of Trade has been
requested in handling the private
concerns.
Sixteenth Street Cited.
=. In connection with his sugges-
lions of changes in the express bus
system to have them operate on
the fastest travel route between
(See SURVEY, Page AID