Evening star., 1954-11-22
transportation
Study SeeksCui
In Federal Cost
$40 Million Saving
Sought BY Pooling
U. S.-Run Vehicles
By WiIIiam A. ksiIlen

tT1LIl6IlG TRANSPORTATION systems
here and throughout the Nation.
In the Washington area alone,
there are nearly 1000 vehicles
that carry Government workers
on official business. Some of the
so major agencies of the Cow
ernment operate their own bus
service, not only here, but
throughout the country. The
Washington area study is slated
to start next week.
1t is estimated about million
passengers here ride Gree on
Government vehicles annually.
President Eisenhower is ex-
pected to set in motion a special
organization to consider the
whole problem about December
l. The group also will look into
the feasibility of having COM
mercial operators furnish trans
portion, in whole or in part, to
replace existing Government
lines.
Opportunity For Appeal.
A presidentially appointed, re-
view board in the Budget Bu-
reau viii give the agencies con-
cerned an opportunity to appeal
from the findings.
The Defense Department saws
1t now has about l,1O0 pas
senger-carTying administrative
vehicles operating in the WASH
ington area. These include am
balances, but exclude wreckers,
trucks. scooters, jeeps, motor
cycles and other specialized We
hicles. They include $50 auto
mobiles. 200 buses, some 275
station wagons and carryalls and
IS ambulances.
Some Of the Defense Depart
ment's vehicles run on regular
schedules. These vary from
every Is minutes. such as to the
Capitol. to four runs daily to Ft.
Belvoir, Va. These include We
hicles of the Army, Navy and Air
Force. The David Taylor Model
Basin at Carderock, Nd, the
Naval Research Laboratory at
Bellevue. the Main Navy Build
ing. the Navy Annex, the Penta-
gon, Boiling Air Base and
Andrews Air Base are key points
on the whole system.
Those who ride must present a
pass from their personnel officer.
an official identification card or
special slips emitting them to the
trip. a Pentagon spokesman ex-
planned.
Convenience and the ex-
pedition Of Government busi-
ness Is the reason the transpor-
tation was established, he ex-
planned.
Ordered BY Wilson.
Secretary of Defense Wilson
last summer declared that the
armed forces would have to find
commercial companies to con-
duct their bus operations, unless
they can show they can do it
cheaper.
One result is that the A. B. &
w. Transit Co. of Alexandria,
Va. as subcontractor for the
Gray Line Sightseeing Co.,
which got the main contract
from the Defense Department.
is now operating eight buses.
These travel between the Navy
Annex. the Pentagon, Main
Navy. the Naval Communica-
tions Center. Massachusetts, and
Nebraska avenues NV, and the
Naval Research Laboratory.
They conduct the interstate
operations, while the Gray Line
runs largely within the. city,
under this contract, with four
buses.
Edmund F. Mansure, the adj
ministrator of General Services,
is spearheading the move. He
wants to be sure in setting up
any pool economy will be devel-
oped and transportation will con-
tinue. He is interested in elm
mating. where possible, duplicat-
ing personnel, maintenance, serv-
ice, facilities and equipment.
To Formulate Program.
John B. Hanson, director, Mo-
tor Vehicle Division of GSA, will
work with the heads Of the prin-
,cipal Government agencies, in an
effort to formulate the program.
Qualified technicians will make
studies in Washington. Chicago,
San Francisco and elsewhere, he
said.
Our studies will extend even-
tually to 100 areas" said Mr..
Hanson. when completed, this
work is likely to result in estab-
fishing 100 pools or systems and
the savings to the Government of
as much as $40 million annually.
Il anticipate a Is per cent re-
duction in the number of vehicle
needs, both here and through
out the country. We have had
a pilot operation in Denver and,
as result of our studies, there
was q 80 per cent reduction and
we saved 100000 annually
there.
"GSA motor equipment spe-
cialists will make studies with
the help Of the agency con-
cerned. It does not necessarily
mean that GSA will operate the
pool that is most efficient or.
economical. But all existing
systems win be consolidated into.
q pool where practicable.
In the GSA in Washington.
we lean toward the use Of taxis
In zones ! and B For BY this
method. GSA saved over $50, 900.
in the past year. through the
elimination Of chauffeur-driven
cars. Mr.. Hanson asserted.
a50.0Oe Vehicles in Use.
The GSA official estimated
that nationally the Federal