Evening star., 1952-01-31
Area Bodies Unite
Behind ice Survey
On Transportation

Tk1e governing p0QleS OF Afllng-
ton, Falls Church and Montgom-
cry and Prince Georges Counties
were represented officially at IA
meeting last night In ,Arlingnn.
The Inter Federation Council. the
District of Columbia Federation of
Citizens Association and the Be-
fense Department were among the
other organizations represented at
the meeting.
The conference was called by
the Arlington Public Utilities
Commission to discuss identical
bills In the Senate and House,
calling for the investigation. tt
was agreed that an effort viii be
made to coordinate testimonyb by
governing bodies and citizens or
ganizations before the House and
Senate Committees on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce. which will
hold hearings. No dates for the
hearings have been set.
Area Cooperation Indicated
Gerald j. Glassman, executive
assistant to the Arlington commits
sion. said the meeting was the first
OF its kind attended by spokes-
men for both governing bodies and
citizens'sgr groups.
There were indications that the
joint action on the pending bills
may be the forerunner of con-
tinued area-wide cooperation on
the transportation problem.
Commenting on assertions that
the only solution is creation Of an
area transit authority, O. 3. Allen,
chairman Of the Arlington COM
mission, said that, when we get
the data from the ICC survey,
we're not going to quit" Mr..
Glassman said such an authority
might be set up through a COM
pact Of the Federal Government,
Maryland and Virginia to regulate
public transportation, parking,
traffic control and highway
development.
The group agreed to the setting
up of steering committee to
include. from each county and
city in the area, a representative
Iof the governing body and citizens
organizations. This committee is
to meet with officials of the House
and Senate committees to discuss
procedure for the hearings. Then
o. meeting similar to the one held
last night will be set for the actual
CO. ordination Of testimony.
ID. C.. Heads Not Represented.
The District Commissioners were
not represented at the meeting. A
letter from James II. Flanagan.
chairman Of the District Public
Utilities Commission, to the ArA
lington commission said the Wash
ington PUG decided not to send
a representative because it does not
plan to present evidence at the
hearings. 49,.
"If the committees Of the Con-
gress desire any expression Of
views from this commission upon
the proposed legislation" Mr..
Flanagan said, "tne commission
will be pleased to appear at such
hearings. II the proposed
legislation should be enacted and
liz the Interstate Commerce Com
mission deems it necessary and
practicable that this committee
cooperate with it in such investi-
cation, the commission tthe
|PUC) will be very happy to do
So" The letter was read at the
meeting by Mr.. Glassn1an.
Prince Georges County Commits
|Sioner Edward j. Ned) Waters
told the group he will present to
his full board, at q meeting to-
morrow, the suggestion that q
representative Of the governing
body testify at the hearings.
Montgomery County Director Of
Public Works Mason A. Butcher,
speaking for County Manager
Irving G. McNayr, said he viii
present the proposal to the
County Council.
The Falls Church City Council
will be officially advised Of the
groups action by City Manager
w. Rodes Woodbury., who at
tended the neetings
The proposal for eventual Gre
alton Of o Metropolitan Area
transit authority came from Mr..
IGlassman, J. II. Connaughton Of
the District Federation and VIM
tiers Haydock Of Alexandria, for
mer directing engineer for the
Pittsburg City Transit Commits
| sion and also former utility engi-
ineer for st. Louis. .
Allen u. O'Brien, representing
the Defense Department. said
Transportation problems have pre-
scented difdculties In recruiting
land retaining personnel The ex-
ipense involved IN bus and street.
lear Transportation. the lack OF
Iadeuuate transfer facilities and
1.-THE length of time required for
Iemploye travel were cited BY Mr..
IoBrien IL. .reasons Why the agency
plans to testify ct the hearings.
= q : 81 2.