Evening star., 1952-03-07
Montgomery Groups
Are Said 10 Favor
Transit Compromise
By WiIIiom A. Millen
Stur StoH coryesnonden,


BALTIMORE, Mar. John r.
Reeves, Secretary Of State for
Maryland, and Bethesda attorney
representing Montgomery County
civic and business interests, today
told the Maryland Public Service
Commission that his group is sat-
isf1ed with compromises for serv-
ice Of the Capital Transit Co.
Mr.. Reeves paid tribute to the
new proposals worked out between
his clients, the commissions staff
and the company.
The new plan calls for the
Montgomery Busline, Capital
Transit Co. subsidiary operating
between Washington and Rock
vile, to make some of it's trips
over Old Georgetown road. The
Alta Vista line now serves that
area. but the company has asked
the commission to abolish zones
3 and 4 on that route.
WOul0 Cu6 zone rare.
The new program calls for the
Montgomery Busline. which Il
operated exclusively over Route
240, to make alternate trips over
that route and Old Georgetown
road. Mr.. Reeves said this would
result In a decrease from seven
cents to five cents per zone and
better buses. He explained the
people will get hourly service in
rush periods just as they have
had before.
Il think it's a good compromise, 4"
Mr.. Reeves said.
Walter s. Steele, chairman Of
the Co-ordinating Committee of
the Old Georgetown Road Citizens
Association comprising eight local
groups in that area, thanked the
commission and the company for
their efforts and promised to try to
get more patronage for the line.
A formal order Of the commission
later viii be required to make the
new program effective.
Maryland Losses Cited.
Earlier today, Robert 8. Harvey,
Capital Transit vice president and
controller, told the PUG that his
firm is increasingly losing money
on its Maryland properties. The
company is seeking commission
approval to curtail some service.
Mr.. Harvey testified that for the
calendar year 1851 the company
showed q net operating loss of
$469. 1872 on its regular route bus
operations In Maryland. He ex-
planned that operating revenues
totaled 81, ,02O, O,545. while operating
expenses reached 81. .327 .806.
The company has experienced
greater financial loss in Maryland
since it put in evidence figures for
the year ending October 81. 1851.
The October figures showed q
net operating loss Of $469.396.
Wage Increase Noted.
Mr.. Harvey pointed out to the
commission that the increase In
wages given the company's or
|ganized workers July is a big
factor In higher operating ex-
|penSeS.
The company plans to offer It's
witnesses for cross-examination
and citizens groups are expected
to have their representatives or
hand. These groups have suggested
that the company maintain serv-
ice to the Prince Georges County
Hospital.
Re-routing Of the B-6 Cheverly
busline into the Prince Georges
County Hospital is now under con-
|sideration to replace service being
given by the present HIS com.
munity line, which runs. between
College Park and Landover Hill,
land Kent Village. The company
seeks to abandon the HIS line
The revised program would give
the hospital h.hour service ir
Incn-rush hours and better thar
that during rush hours.
Today's hearing Is a resumption
of that originally planned for Feb.
ruary 6. It was postponed indefi'
niteiy so that q series Of closee
conferences could be held betweel
company spokesmen, citizens o.
the areas affected and People,