Evening star., 1951-01-16
||CC Authorizes
Higher Fares 10
Pentagon Area
Virginia Rate Rises
From 10 to IS Cents,
Joint Up Is to q

joint up 10 10 Is
Increases of from A to so per
cent in bus fares between WASH
ington and Government installa-
tions in Arlington were author.
lied today by the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
Raises would be permitted for
rates involving transfers between
the Capital Transit Co. and two
Virginia bus lines.
A raise from 16 to % cents
almost A per cent-would be
permitted in rates involving trans
fers. Fares would be sold only
in the from of ticket books, good
for go days, at the rate of $2.76
for IL one-Way trips.
One-way rates on the Virginia
lines can be increased so per cent
from 10 to Is cents cash or 1874
cents for tokens (three for 40
cents.
10 Days Notice Required.
The increases may be put into
effect upon 10 days notice to the
travelling public. the ICC ruled.
Virginia buslines involved are
the Washington, Virginia & Mary
land Coach Co. (Arnold Line), and
the Alexandra. Bancroft & Wash
ington Transit Co.
Government installations in
volved are the Pentagon, the
Navy's Arlington Annex, the Air
Force Annex and Washington Ma
tional Airport.
E. c. Giddings, vice president
of Capital Transit, said he learned
Of the order only this morning and
was not prepared to say when the
prescribed notice to the public
would be given. He said that he
believed simultaneous notice
would have to be given by Capital
Transit and the Virginia bus lines.
Officials at the Virginia lines were
not available for comment imme-
diately.
Both Virginia buslines recently
had been awarded increased rates
in their operations between
Washington and other suburban
points outside of the Government
installations. The two companies
serve Arlington and Fairfax Coun-
ties and the City of Alexandria.
The order represents a defeat
for Capital Transit Co., which op-
posed increases at recent hear
ings.
Need for Additional Revenues.
The ICC order was based on
findings that the Virginia lines
are in need of additional revenues
and that the joint fares with Cap
ital Transit are LESS than reason
able" in view of advancing ope-
rating costs.
Under the new order the Joint
23-cent fare would be divided, IL
cents to the Virginia busline and
II cents to Capital Transit. the
total is l cent higher than an ICC
examiner had recommended after
hearings were held.
At present the Virginia lines
get 9 cents and Capital Transit
Z CENTS under transfer arrange
ment.
Four members of the 11-man
ICC expressed some form of dis
sent in the case.
Chairman Walter M. w. Splawn
nd Commissioner James K.
knudson objected to any increase
in joint fares "in the absence Of
strong showing of improved
service"
Moreover" they said, there
seems {. to be a basic shortcom-
ing in a fare situation which sets
up what amounts to a hump
simply because the transportation
extends a short distance beyond
the District of Columbia into Vir-
ginia over Potomac River bridges.
Compared With D. C. Fares.
"The point is emphasized by
comparison of mileages that can
be travelled within the District Of
Columbia on a basic 15-cent fare.
This latter fare, it should be. noted,
allows free transfers from street.
car to bus and from bus to
streetcar for a trip within the Dis
trict of Columbia but, for trip to
or from Government buildings that
happen to be located in what was
once a. part of the District of Co
lumbia, but which now are just
beyond the District of Columbia
line, the arrangement herein ap-
proved by the majority imposes a
special ticket arrangement and
substantially higher fares"
Commissioner William j. Pat
terson said. Il agree with the
majority to the extent they au-
thorize increases in fares of the
Virginia lines. However. I am of
the opinion that the joint fare
should be discontinued"
Commissioner Richard F..
Mitchell said, II concur in the
allowed increases in the fares, but
am opposed to prescribing joint
fares and schedules because the
Capital Transit Co. has no ply
sical operations in Virginia and
on this account should not be re-
quired to enter into a joint fare
arrangement"
How Close to Ideal