Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-15
Effort TO Find
Transportation
Solution Grows
Traffic Trunsit
And Planning
Officials Confer
By George Beveridqe

by george beverage
Increased support for Joint
District Maryland Virginia eff
forts to find solutions to the
areas transportation problems,
including better mass transit
facilities, was in evidence today.
It grew out Of an all-tiay forum
discussion between traffic, transit
and planning officials yesterday,
The meeting also brought APP
peals from mass transit interests
for direct relief from mounting
financial problems.
Efforts to halt declines in bus
and streetcar patronage provided
the main subject of the meeting,
called by the Northern Virginia
Regional Planning Commission
at the Hunting Towers Apart
ments in Alexandria.
No firm course Of action
emerged, but proposals flew thick
and fast on transit matters as
well as the general problem OF
traffic congestion.
Study Urged.
Clifton G. Stoneburner, Airing
ton County highway engineer,
urged that a general study of
area transportation needs be-
tween Virginia, Maryland and
the District be the first step. He
said mass transit problems
should be part of the whole
study.
Mrs. Kathryn H. Stone,
Arlington delegate to the Vir-
GINA Legislature, argued that
mechanics for such study
already are set up. The Virginia
Legislature. she said, already
has authorized such a compact,
with the emphasis on mass
transit. %and has appointed
representatives. The Maryland
Legislature has taken similar
action.
Earlier. Representative Broy-
hill. Republican, of Virginia and
Harland Bartholomew, National
Capital Planning Commission
chairman, also gave first prior
ity to some form of area-wide
study group.
Transit company spokesman
made urgent pleas for direct
relief measures, however, aimed
mainly at making bus-riding
more attractive to commuters.
Policy Questioned.
r. r. Mitchell of the a.. B.
& w. Transit Co. charged that
area officials adopt a Short
sighted policy of favoring mo-
florists at the expense of bus
companies. while in the same
breath they advocate more bus
riders and less motorists as the
solution to traffic congestion.
Crjticizing the large number
of parking spaces provided for
motorists near the Pentagon and
other employment centers as an
example, he said transit firms
can hope to survive under pri-
waite ownership only if:
The firms get "the same con-
sideration as the automobile, ~
the Federal Government sets
up a true staggering of work
ing) hours" officials ban down.
town curb parking and transit
firms get relief from "antiquated
charges and taxes not levied on
the automobile" for street use.
Revenue Drop Cited.
Leslie L. Altman, president
Of the w. NJ. & A. Transit Co.
said the bus passenger load OF
his company in Prince Georges
County and the District dropped
from &C. million in 1916 to 3.6
million last year. Over the same
period. he said, the firm added
IS buses and revenues dropped
from SITS, 900 to $698, 900.
Col. Harley L. Swift, president
of the Harrisburg CPa.) Rail-
ways Co.. attacked what he
called the "hog-wild" building
of expressways. which increase
traffic congestion.
He said the cure for traffic
paralysis" facing all major
cities is concentrated doses of
mass transportation, plus effec-
tive quarantine and restriction
on the use of streets. :"
Sees Room for Both.
However, LeVerne johnson.
American Automobile Associa-
ton district manager, attacked
the idea that "either mass transit
or the automobile has to CO."
He urged the two groups to get
together on plans for "a trans
portation system that will handle
both of u.s." and added:
1.-THE day you legislate cars
out of downtown areas is the
day you legislate the downtown
out of existence"
Before adjourning the meeting
Leslie civilians, Philadelphis
traffic consultant and moderator
of the discussion, sought agree.
ment on some of the viewpoint.
expressed. BY that time, how.
ever, the group had dwindled tt
about 20 persons, and no firm
policy statements were voted.
Among proposals suggested b,
Mr.. Williams were: Fewer pub
lie utilities restrictions on transi
firms in eliminating little-uset
routes and Improbable service
elimination of discrimination,
taxes" such as gross profit
levies on the companies, less de
lay in fare revisions and highwa,
improvements to aid transi
operations.