Evening star., 1948-04-19
Arnold LineAsks
To Alter Service
For Economy
Would Leave z Routes
Below Columbia Pike
To A. B. & w. Buses

sSV S"SsS sNS
To A. B. & w. Buses
The Arnold Lines of Arlington to.
day proposed bus route and schedule
changes, including abandonment Of
service In one area to the A. B. 81
w. Bus Co. of Alexandria, as econ
ony measures.
The company, which operates as
the Washington, Virginia & Mary
land Coach Co., has filed petitions
for the changes with the State Cor
poration Commission in Richmond
and with the Interstate Commerce
Commission in Washington.
M. D. Mills, who has been general
manager of the bus company for
several months, said it was hoped
to put the new route program into
effect May 10, if approved
The service proposed to be aban-
doned includes the two major routes
operated by the company south of
Columbia pike. One is known as the
darlington route and the bther is
the Sixteenth and Vermont streets
line. Abandonment of the Fairling-
ton route would mean discontinue
ance of all but rush-hour service
by the Arnold line through the Pen
tagon Building, Mr.. Mills said.
Other Service Would Increase.
Mr.. Mills said it is proposed to
increase A. B. & w. service on
these routes to take care Of pas
sengers now using Arnold buses.
1--WE feel 1t will give the people
along these routes more dependable
and better service" Mr.. Mills de-
clared. He pointed out that the
two companies now operate In these
general areas in competition with
each other.
And we both were operating in
the red on these routes" he added.
He said that at preliminary confer
ences with A. B. g. W., the Alex.
andria line did not favorably ac-
cept the idea, taking the position
that 1t would cost too much to sup
plement service on these routes dur
ing the rush hours. An agreement
was finally reached, however. after
a thorough study of the situation
indicated one company probably
could operate more profitably in
the area than two companies in
competition.
The only service south of Colum-
bia pike that would continue to
be operated by Arnold lines Is Green
Valley route between Rosslyn and
'Shirlington. Mr.. Mills explained.
Extensions Are Proposed.
Both routes to be turned over
to A. B. g. w. formerly were oper-
ated by the Arlington & Fairfax
line which Arnold purchased last
year.
Three extensions Of service also
ara proposed. in the new routing
nrogram. Mrs Mills said plans call
for extension of existing routes into
Dominion Hills and Paisley Forest
on the Wilson boulevard line; ex-
tension of the Lee highway line into
Garden City,. and through buses
to Jefferson Village during the
morning and evening rush hours.
Mr.. Mills said he believed service
in these three areas would be profit
able.
To supplement service of that
portion of the Sixteenth and Yer.
mont route north of Columbia pike
which will not be serviced by
A. B. & w., the company pro-
poses merger of two routes which
would result in regular Commute
service starting at Columbia pike
and Glebe road, north on Glebe
road to Second street, east on Sec
ond street to Irving street. north on
Irving street to Clarendon Circle,
east on Washington boulevard to
Columbia pike, to Arlington Ridge
road. and then over Memorial
Bridge into Washington.
Other proposed changes include q
doubling of service on the Lexington
street, Wilson boulevard route from
the present Commute service to Is
minute service, slight reduction of
midday service on Arlington Forest
and Glencarlyn routes, reducing the
former from IL to Is minute service
and the latter from "a to 80 minute
service.
Savings Are Estimated.
The changes would eliminate all
Arnold service over the Fourteenth
Street Bridge except during Penta-
gon rush-hour service
Mr.. Mills said 1t was hoped the
changes could save the company be-
tween 5000 and $4,000 month.
Were fighting for survival" the
general manager declared, pointing
out that the company lost $25 900 In
the first three months this year.
| He said last month only four of
the routes produced enough revenue
to cover the expense Of operating
them. The other seven. be said, con-
tinued to operate at a deficit. Two
of the deficit routes, the manager
declared. are those the company
proposes to turn over to A. B. 81 w.
The changes proposed today, Mr..
Mills said, are only the beginning
of a complete new deal that is In
store for the bus company and It's
riders. There are other changes
we have in sight which We hope to
put in effect within about six
months" he declared.
while a lot of bitterness has
existed between the employees and
the owners" Mr.. Mills continued, Il
think that through the cooperation
of the employees we are getting
somewhere.
Mr.. Mills was brought in as man
ager of the bus line. which lost
$285 900 last year, in an effort to
eliminate sources of complaint and
helping to put the company on