Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-21
Capital Transit
Tells Of Drop in
Bus Line Riders
Maryland PUG Told
OF 300 Decrease at
Silver Spring Hearing
o.. D 7-k-.
By J. B. Zotmon

The number of persons riding
on two Capital Transit Co. bus
lines in Prince Georges County
dropped approximately 30 per cent
during the past year, the Mary
land Public Service Commission
was Told today.
The figures were given by Dean
j. Locke, staff engineer of the
transit company, at the outset of
a hearing before the PSC on the
transit company's proposal to
abandon service on eight Mont
gomery and Prince Georges Coun-
ty buslines after March 81.
Nearly 300 persons were at
tending the hearing in the Silver
Spring Armory. Just before the
session opened, attorneys for the
transit company reiterated their
claim that the PSC has no au-
thority to require the company to
continue the service, for which
annual permits are granted.
To Rule on Authority.
John Hessel, commission chair
man, said the PSC would rule on
the transit company's contention
after today's hearing.
The two lines mentioned by Mr..
Locke in his testimony were the
Ga. which runs between Green
belt and College Park, and the F-8,
which runs between the Mount
Rainier bus terminal and the Bal
timore & Ohio railroad station in
Riverdale.
Mr. Locke said there is an aver
age of 10 persons per trip during
rush hours on the Go lines and
an average of three persons per
trip during the evening hours on
the same line He added the num-
Der of riders has declined an aver
age of 80 per cent during the past
year.
On the F-8 line, Mr.. Locke said
there is an average of five persons
per trip during the morning rush
hours and a similar number dur
ing the afternoon rush hours. He
said the number of passengers has
dropped an average of 81 per cent
during the past year,
Contends Service Adequate.
Under questioning by Daryal A.
Myse. a transit company attor-
ney. Mr.. Locke testified that even
If the F-8 line is abandoned,
riders would continue to receive
service over the same area on the
G-6 and H-8 lines.
On third Prince Georges line,
the H-3, between the Baltimore &
Ohio station in Riverdale and Riv-
erdale road and Sixty-sixth ave-
nue., Eastpines, Mr.. Locke said
there is an average of four per-
sons per trip during rush hours.
He added the number of paSsen-
gers using this line has dropped
an average of l8 per cent during
! the past year.
Ready With Arguments.
Citizen groups are prepared to
meet the company'S argument
with the contention that Capital
Transit is earning more money on
its overall operations today and
should continue to run the lines
as public service.
| Capital Transit believes it is en-
Titled to drop the service in the in
lterest of improving service else
where.
PUG Enters Fight.
Interest in the case has reached
Congress. with Senator Butler,
Republican, of Maryland. asking
for an investigation. Yesterday
the District Public Utilities Com
mission entered the fight.
The PUG scheduled a hearing
Tuesday to cover the five lines
that extend into the District. The
commission said the hearing is
meant to cover only those riders
who board and leave the buses in
the District.
The lines extending into the
District are N-8, Glen Echo, o.,
Kenwood, Edgemoor and Bradley
boulevard; ia, Takoma branch
line; X-0. Sheriff road, and Y-3,
ppn1 N1l, Il