Evening star., 1942-02-12
Dime Fare Plan
On Takonla Bus
Lines Dropped
Commission Denies
Compony's Petition
Without Prejudice

Long standing proposals by the
Capital Transit Co. that 1t be per-
mitted to charge . straight 10-cent
cash fare on the Takoma -Petworth
and Chillum express buses in return
for extensions and improvements on
various bus routes affecting these
areas were denied today by the
Public Utilities Commission without
prejudice to later revival Of petit
tions.
Company officials suggested that
due to wartime demands on the
transit concern, the issue should be
deferred to q more favorable time.
They added that because Of i'm
pending shortage Of tires, new buses,
and availability Of labor this was no
time to engage in any unnecessary
changes in routings and service.
After brief public hearing at
tended by representatives of the
Takoma, Petworth and Chillum
areas, the commission dismissed an
application filed January "a. 1s4l,
but made it clear the company or
others had the right to renew re-
quested changes later.
Counter Proposals Offered.
More than a year ago when resi-
dents OF the several North Wash
ington sections requested rerout-
ings, extension Of hours of operation
OF one or more express bus lines and
other improvements in service, the
transit company countered with a
series of six proposed changes in
service, but insisted these should not
be granted unless the p. U. G. at
the same time granted the company
. 10-cent fare on the Takoma. Pet
worth and Chillum express buses,
with no transfers to be issued or ac-
cepted on these lines.
Thereafter organized citizen
groups prepared for a bitter battle
on the issue, particularly since these
express buses now are under the
regular token fare, with the uni
versal transfer and permitting use
OF the weekly transit pass. Action
was deferred by the p U. c., first to
await decision on other transit is
sues and later because the death of
Riley E. Elgen, former commission
chairman. left the agency with but
one member.
Merrill's Letter.
Transit Company President E. D.
Merrill wrote the commission re-
Gently asking postponement of action
and referring to the hearings held
today, In which he said:
THE company is advised by those
responsible for allocations Of ma
terials thatit cannot expect to Sc
cure allotment of materials for addi-
tional vehicles or other physical
equipment unless and until all rea-
sonable steps have been taken to
reduce its equipment requirements
by eliminating Implications of serv-
ices and putting into effect all pos
sible measures for the most efficient
use OF vehicles now on hand.
Removal of the War Department
to its new building and introduction
Of new Government ONCE buildings
In new and widely separated 1oca-
tions require immediate and con-
tinuing intensive study.
Rapid changes in Government
workings and the extension of the
number OF hours of the working day
have imposed and may be expected
further to impose, tremendous VOL
umes Of work on our schedule and
trafic departments-work which
cannot be postponed or avoided, nor
is it possible to employ additional
trained, qualified individuals for that
work within the reasonable foresee-
able future.
The conclusion is inescapable
that neither the commission nor the
company will want to form conclu-
sions as to rerouting or changes in
existing operations without first
having restudied possibilities Of such
simpliflcations and economy and
reached q full determination as to
whether such plans are fully in ac-
cord with the present national re7t
quirements."