Evening star., 1946-10-01
Benning Road
Buses Opposed
As Traffic Peril
Plan Also Would
Increase Congestion,
Hearing is Told

Substitution of buses for the pres
ent Benning road streetcar line
would increase traffic congestion
generally and increase the danger
of accidents, Chief Engineer John
Milton of the Department of
Vehicles and Trafic today told the
Public Utilities Commission.
Mr.. Milton testified in connection
with the application of the Capital
Transit Co., to make the substitu-
tion on the portion Of the Rosslyn-
Benning streetcar line east Of
Fifteenth street NV.
Earlier, Highway Director H. G.
Whitehurst told the PUG his de-
partment would strongly insist" on
the widening of Benning road be-
fore any general bus operation is
permitted.
He estimated the cost at $125, 600
and said 1t was not contemplated
unless the change-over is ordered
Civic Spokesmen to Be Heard. ID
The hearing, continued from yes
terday, was recessed shortly after
noon until 2 pm. when civic
spokesmen from the area affected
are to be heard.
PUG Chairman James H. Flana-.
gan also promised that interested
citizen groups meeting within the
next few days, which may wish to
take action on the matter. will be
afforded an opportunity to present
their views to the commission.
Mr.. Mitten was particularly criti-
cal of the proposed terminal for the
buses In front of the RFC building
on Vermont avenue between H and
streets.
He pointed out that official park
ing spaces must be made available
there and hence that congestion
would result.
He said he could not agree with
the "blithe assumption" of Company
Engineer Dean Locke that the ter
minal could be moved elsewhere.
< H Street Repaving Planned.
I'VE don't know just where that
would be-" he told the hearing.
There are streetcars on H street
and buses on I street and consider
able traffic up Fifteenth street"
Capt. Whitehurst indicated his
department plans to repave H street
between Second and Fourteenth
streets NE. at cost of $189, 900
and hence is interested in knowing
whether the streetcars are going to
remain.
Northeast businessmen have al
ready indicated opposition to the
proposal, although they have yet to
testify on the formal company ap-
plication.
Yesterday four transit officials, in
cluding e. D. Merrill, told the
PUG buses would be cheaper to
operate than streetcars, would fur
nish patrons with equally good If
not better service and that elimina-
ton Of the streetcar tracks would
reduce traffic congestion. The COM
pany would use liz buses over the
route, including spares, it was said
Slight Route Changes.
The proposed exchange OF buses
IOT STeeCcarS also WOulQ De accom-
panied by slight route changes, it
was said. Within the District, the
buses would move west along Ben
ming road, H street, Massachusetts,
avenue, K street and New York ave-
nue. as far as Eleventh street NV.
At Eleventh street NV, the buses
would continue down New York av-
enue, branch OF on H street again
as far as Vermont avenue, turn
north on Vermont avenue and loop
back eastward on I street. They
would follow I street back to
Eleventh street NV, turn south on
Eleventh street as far as H street,
and follow H street and Benning
road back eastward.
The streetcar service now in oper-
alton on the line follows the same
streets westward as far as Eleventh
street NV, but from there goes on
down New York avenue to Pennsyl-
vania avenue. and thence westward
to RoSslyn, Va.