Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-26
MuddIed TRANSPORTATION Problem

Representative Crawford of Michigan has
given needed boost to the developing move
ment for a comprehensive investigation Of the
muddIed public transportation situation in the
Washington Metropolitan Area. The situation
is muddled for the reason that there are four
different regulatory commissions functionlng in
the area, as Mr.. Crawford stressed in a House
speech. Only one of the agencies, the Interstate
Commerce Commission, has any overall author
ity-and this is limited by law and appropra-
tons There is little question as to the power
of the ICC, however, to make study of regional
mass-transportation problems, as proposed by
governmental and civic interests. Mr.. Crawford
wants the House District Committee to add its
strength to those requesting such an inVesti-
CATION"
If the ICC is awaiting directive from Con-
gress before taking action, this authority may be
forthcoming before long. Senators Byrd and
Robertson of Virginia are the latest supporters
of legislation to provide for the inquiry They
have introduced a companion piece to Maryland
Representative Beals bill for broad bus-street-
car study in the Washington Metropolitan Area
The inquiry would be unusual, but not without
precedent
Advocates of the investigation point out that
the ice last year conducted a somewhat similar
study of transit difficulties in the Omaha-Council
Bluffs metropolitan area. These two cities are
separated by the Missouri River Two transit
companies serve them AS a result of complaints
of inadequate services and double fares for
those riding from one city to the other, the
ICC launched study of the whole area. 1t
ruled that the evidence mot only amply sup
ports, but in our opinion requires, the conclusion
that the two cities comprise single metropoh-
tan community and should be afforded a trans
hat ho Y1I1hIi n
travel from any section of the area to any other
section at single fare"
Under the proposed congressional resolu-
TONS the ICC would be asked to study "the ade-
quacy and convenience of passenger carrier
facilities and service and the reaSonableneSS OF
fares in the Metropolitan Area of Washington,
D. c.. including the District of Columbia, Mont
gomery County and Prince Georges County,
Maryland, and Arlington County, Fairfax
County and the cities of Falls Church and Alex
andra, Virginia" The inquiry would be made
in cooperation with the Virginia Corporation
Commission, the Maryland Public Service Com
mission and the District Public Utilities Com
mission, ito the extent deemed necessary" by
the ICC.
The local problem is more complex than that
which confronted the ICC at Omaha and Council
Bluffs. Instead of two companies it would have
10 STUDY GIe OpeTdIIOuS Oh more ClldQ nail a
dozen companies which carry passengers by bus
or streetcar within the Washington area. There
are no transfers between the different lines,
although there is, by ICC order, joint-ticket
arrangement between the Capital Transit Com
pany and two Virginia bus lines-for the benefit
of employees at the Pentagon, the Navy Annex
and other nearby Federal installations The
authority of the ICC to issue the joint-fare order
despite the fact that Capital Transit is not en-
gagged in interstate commerce between the Dis
trict and Virginia, has been upheld by the
Supreme Court.
Whether the ICC is the best agency to make
such an investigation, even though it may have
full authority is another question. There is
mounting sentiment for special body to per-
form regulatory functions in this region-func-
tons which now are outside the scope of the
District, Maryland and Virginia commissions but
which are of mutual concern to all the commune
ties within the region If the ICC does no more
than pave the way for creation of such an
agency, it will have made worthwhile contri
button toward joint solution of the Metropolitan
Areas maSs-transportation difficulties.