Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-10

passengers using the terminal at
the west end Of the Sousa Bridge at
$4,000 day. This figure, 1t was said,
includes users Of Capital Transit
streetcars and buses, as well as W..
M. & A. buses, which load and un.
load at triangle to the south OF the
terminal.
Civic groups in Southeast Wash
ington have been concerned about
congestion at the terminal for some
time. In a letter published In Tho
Star last Wednesday E. D. Merrill,
president Of Capital Transit, said
two additional bus lanes were
planned. Dean ]. Locke, stan engt-
neer Of the transit company, said
yesterday that the ground had been
broken and that 1t was almost ready
for concrete.
New Hazard Feared.
William A. Duvall, chairman Of
the Public Utilities Committee Of the
Southeast Council, said that after
the completion of the lanes there
would be the problem of people
having to run through bus lanes"
which would be like going through
traffic lanes"
Some civic leaders have COM
planned that at rush hours streetcars
line up along Pennsylvania avenue
waiting to unload passengers at the
terminal. Then while the passengers
are waiting to get of to transfer
they sometimes see their buses pull
out of the terminal, 1t was pointed
out.
At the present time, Mr.. Locke
said, only four streetcars can fully
utilize" the circle. The company, he
added, has asked the National Capt.
tai Parks ONCE to permit enlarge
ment of the concrete platform in the
loop so as to permit six cars to
unload.
A proposal Of the Randle High
lands Association, which will come
before the council, calls for surfacing
of the center park space on Pennsyl-
vania avenue between Fifteenth and
Seventeenth streets, so that during
rush hours buses could load and
unload there to waiting streetcars.
This would require, it was pointed
out, diversion Of automobile traffic at
such times to protect transferring
passengers.
Would Detour Traffic.
Under this proposal traffic coming
over the Sousa Bridge would be de-
toured down Kentucky avenue and
then cut back to Pennsylvania ave-
nue., either down Fifteenth street or
Potomac avenue. In the late after
noon rush period traffic bound for
the east side of the Anacostia River
would move on Fifteenth street to K
and up K street to the bridge.
Asked about the use Of the two
blocks on Pennsylvania avenue for
loading and unloading, Mr.. Locke
said yesterday that this was one Of
many plans that have been con.
sidered. He said that they might
have to resort to such a measure If
the trafiic continued to gain as in
the past. If, however, building on
the east side of the Anacostia does
not accelerate and if no more work.
ers are sent to Suitland, Mr.. Locke
said he felt the step would not be
necessary.
An additional burden has been
placed on the terminal, with the
change of several w., M. & A. ex-
press buses in the District from ex-
press to locals, W., M. & A. spokes-
man said. He predicted, however,
that the triangle they use would be
satisfactory as long as an officer is
there is protect persons crossing to
the terminal.
Cites Traffic Increase.
Mr.. Merrill. in his letter, stated
that the traffic far exceeded original
plans for the circle terminal. Re-
ferring to the need for revised plans,
he declared:
Unfortunately. the area involved
comes under the jurisdiction Of sew
eral departments of the Federal and
District governments and as 1t was
necessary to secure the approval Of
all, much time was consumed in
preparing additional plans to meet
the various objections"
Mr.. Merrill explained that after
final approval of plans, it was i'm
possible to get bids from contractors
because they we're tied up In con-
tracts with the authorities"
Finally wrote Mr.. Merrill,
through the cooperation of the
District Highway Department, which
agreed to permit one contractor to
defer some Of their work, we were
successful in completing the contract
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