Evening star., 1953-02-07
Encouraging, ifconfusinq

The growing interest in a co-ordinated
attack on traffic, transportation and other
problems of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Is shown by the plurality Of proposals. in and
out of Congress- for commissions, committees
or other groups to deal with the situation. All
of this is encouraging, even if somewhat con-
fusing. 1t is becoming increasingly evident
that something must be done to bring about
better interjurisdictional teamwork among the
diverse communities composing Greater Wash
ington. The variety OF remedies already sug-
gested is indicative of the variety of problems
involved. Some coordination of the numerous
co-ordinating proposals would be helpful in
securing effective action.
Already there have been introduced in the
new Congress several major bills touching on
one or more phases of Metropolitan Area prob
lens, and more are in prospect Sundry similar
bills have been introduced in the past but
have gotten nowhere. One important regional
coordination measure has been passed-the
one reorganizing the National Capital Planning
Commission and setting up an overall Regional
Planning Council, composed of representatives
of District, Maryland and Virginia planning
agencies
New legislative proposals include C1) Sena-
tor Buffers bill to authorize an interstate COM
pact among the District Maryland and Virginia
possibly for joint building and control Of such
public works; t2) Senator Bealls bill for an
Interstate Commerce Commission study OF
public transportation in Washington and its
suburbs, and CD Representative Broyhill's plan
for a 12-man regional commission to find
remedies for highway, bridge and nass-trans-
portation troubles of the area. In addition,
the National Capital Planning Commission has
recommended appointment of presidential
commission to study the regional transportation
setup, and the Metropolitan Area Traffic Coun-
Gil, composed OF highway authorities of the
three jurisdictions, has suggested transporta-
tion survey by the Regional Highway Planning
Committee, which conducted the recent origin
and-destination traffic surveys.
Obviously, there would be waSteful over
tapping and duplication of inquiries and action
If all of these proposals were to be carried out.
The legislation now before Congress is con-
cerned with the same general problems of public
and private transportation in the Capital area
Yet, all are scheduled for consideration by diff
ferent committeeS-the Senate and House Dis
trict Committees and, in the case OF the Butler
BILL. the Senate Committee on Public Works.
q The sensible move, under the circumstances,
would be for joint, concerted study OF all the
various proposals, past pending and impending,
with view to consolidating them into one or
more bills on which attention could be CEN
tered Senator Case has paved the way for
such an approach by creating Senate District
subcommittee on Metropolitan Area problems.
similar task force on the House side might
/. well join with the Senate group in joint con-
sideration of Metropolitan Area legislation. This
\ sort Of congressional teamwork could lead to a
successful plan for interiurisdictional teamwork
that would pave the way. for more orderly
development Of Greater washington.