Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-23
Let's Not lump the Track

The unanimous Endorsement by the Senate
Commerce Committee of a bill to create
Washington Metropolitan Area transit regula-
tory commission is indicative of a growing
determination in Congress to do something
about this cityS transit troubles. That is highly
encouraging to those who have lost patience
with transit fares, services and management
policies in general in Greater Washington But
Congress should take care not to Jump the
track IN its understandable haste to reach
solution.
It could Jump the track and come to grief
by taking action without benefit of adequate
information on the subject of the public
transportation needs of the District and its
suburbs. There have been many complaints
from many quarters about the Capital Transit
Company and various suburban buslnes, but
much Of it has been more emotional than
factual. There have been numerous suggestions
as to what ought to be done. The Star, among
others, has suggested the possibility of some
Such Metropolitan Area public utilities control
agency as is contemplated in Senator Johnson's
: DILL just reported by the Senate Commerce
group There have been proposals also for an
outright operating transit authority, to take
over and consolidate mass transportation in
z the area, for an interstate compact providing
Tor regional regulatory agency and various
SorGS OF Investigations.
The Johnson bill would avoid delays of
compact procedure by setting up, in effect,
Federal agency to control regional transit
operations within and across the Districts
boundaries The three members of the COM
mission would be appointed by the President
from residents of the Metropolitan Area but
not specifically representative of each jurisdic-
ton involved But Maryland and Virginia in
no CT hou do fVolo
only representation on such commission, but
a real voice in its decisions. They are not apt
to look with favor on any plan which could
be construed as authorizing another Federal
agency to take over some of the regulatory
powers Of the two States
Chairman Spencer of the District P. u. has
called the committees attention to a number
OF changes that should be made in the bill.
District control should be preserved, for ex-
ample, over transit routes through the city,
use OF street space for parking and terminals,
the mileage tax, sightseeing buses and taxicab
insurance These are properly District RESPONSE
bil1tieS, and should remain So Also the bill
should be explicit about responsibility for
safety Inspections now under the ICC. Had
there been public hearing on the revised
johnson bill some of these defects would have
been revealed.
It is obvious that there are many problems
to be considered and solved in adopting specific
legislation in this field. The time to work out
these problems is before definite action is taken.
The most sensible approach to solution, there
fore, is through appointment of commission of
inquiry, such as is provided for in the pending
Broyhill bill. This commission should be en-
powered to hire experts to make a compre-
hensive study of Metropolitan Area transit
difficulties and report its findings and recon-
mendationS to Congress. Then Congress would
have the basis for an intelligent decision on the
various proposals for transit legislation pending
at the Capitol.