Evening star., 1946-04-26
Taxi Parking Space
In District Reduced
On Public Complaints

A considerable cut in the curt
parking space reserved for taxicabs
was ordered today by the Public
Utilities Commission. 1t will pro-
vide places for the parking of 23(
private automobiles throughout the
city
Commission Chairman James H
Flanagan said the action follows a
survey by the Police Department
and the PUG Engineering Bureau OF
the use of such stands by taxicabs
Many of the stands we're found not
being used at all
At present, Mr.. Flanagan con-
tinued. 273 separate cab stands oc-
cupy some $4,000 feet of curb with
a capacity of 758 taxicabs. When
the new order has been complied
with, he said, 227 stands will re-
main, occupying slightly less thar
10000 feet Of curb with capacity
of 528 taxicabs.
Public Complaints Answered.
Forty-six of the stands are be-
ing abolished and 63 others reduced
in size. Those to be eliminated are
the ones found by investigators tc
be almost completely unused.
Mr.. Flanagan said the investiga-
ton was inspired by complaints
from The public.
At the same time, the Commission
revoked, effective Wednesday, a
wartime authorization for taxicabs
to stand on public highways for not
more than 10 minutes, where such
standing was ordinarily illegal.
The authorization was originally
given to eliminate cruising and tc
give the drivers an opportunity to
stand outside apartment buildings
to pick up load. Mr.. Flanagan
said police have been receiving COM
plants of abuse of the privilege and
that it has been found to impede
traffic.
Pentagon Plan Indefinite.
Efforts of the District Motor We
hicle Parking Agency to provide 1000
parking spaces for Virginia cars
coming into lower downtown Wash
ington in the North Pentagon park
ing lot have borne some fruit but
the project is still indefinite, P. Y
K. Howatt, agency chairman, said
yesterday following a weekly meet
ing of the parking group.
The agency, he said, has been told
by Brig. Gen. Robert N. Young, COM
manding general of the Washington
military district, it must solve some
of the problems involved before per-
mission to use the lot can be granted
The parking agency, he said, has
called on the four bus companies
serving the area-the Capital Tran
sit, Arnold Lines, Arlington and
Fairfax and A. B. & W.-to find out
if they would be willing to route
buses through the lot to pick ur
parkers and bring them on to Wash
ington.
Commissions Amenable.
The Public Utilities Commission
and the Interstate Commerce Com
mission have indicated the proposal
Is satisfactory prOVldlng charges
made by the bus companies make
the service self-supporting.
The Public Roads Administration
at the parking agency's request, il
making a study to determine
whether the lot could be directly
connected with the Virginia ap.
proaches to the Potomac bridges.
The general plan as it stands now
Mr.. Howatt said, is to have one O.
the transit companies operate tn,
service, making a blanket charg,
for the daily ride both ways and fol
all-day parking.
The plan to obtain use of the NORTH
parking lot at the Pentagon was re.
vealed by Mr. Howatt at an Ameri.
can Automobile Association District
Advisory Board luncheon severa
weeks ago. He said at the time &
survey of cars parked south of tn.
District Building revealed more thar
800 had VIRGINIA taos