Evening star., 1954-09-19
Fringe Parking
Supporters See
Increased Use
Only Half Available
Space Filled; Trend
Heurtens Officials

Sp0Ce TiIeos iTen0
Heurtens Officials
While not exactly off to a
flying start in the first three
days of operation. Washington's
fringe parking lot exceeded the
expectations of many by har-
boring a total Of $50 automobiles.
That figure represents less
than half the number of spaces
available free to the driving pub
lie over the three-day period.
But city officials were taking
heart since the volume increased
each day since it opened last
Wednesday.
Milton M. Rodes, executive
director Of. the Motor Vehicle
Parking Agency which runs the
project. last night declared he
is confident that the upward
trend will continue this week.
$50 Riders Carried.
On opening day, 149 cars car
rying 100 passengers used the
lot. Thursday the totals were
236 cars and 297 passengers.
Last Friday 254 cars rolled in
with $50 riders. In his break
down of passenger figures, Mr..
RodeS relied on the number of
free passenger tickets announced
by Capital Transit Co. which is
providing express bus service be-
tween the lot and the downtown
area during morning and after
nonn rush hours.
The parking agency head re-
ported widespread enthusiasm
for the fringe parking idea. The
agency even received a fan let
ter to the effect that at least
one happy lot user had cut his
travel time from home to down.
twon by one-third. The writer
expressed the hope that the
service WOuld continue.
A woman customer" was won
over by the parking lot people
when the gloves she had dropped
on the lot in the morning were
returned to her when she re-.
turned for her car in the evening.
The agency is holding one lost
earring for another lot user.
Company Gets Revenue.
Capital Transit had the pleas
ure of taking in a little money
In the deal-something in the
neighborhood of seven dollars.
The company was not welshing
on it's agreement to supply free
bus rides for a 30-day test per-
iod. A handful of husbands
dropped their wives at the South
Capitol Street-Firth Sterling
road terminal and drove on.
Since these cars were not parked
on the lott he wives had to pay
for their two-way bus ticket at
the going rate of fare.
About the only disgruntled
persons in sight were the motor
cycle policeman who formerly
used the parking lot site at night
as a nice dark spot from which
to take off after speeders, and
all-day parkers whose spaces on
the Mall were limited to two
hours from the day the fringe
lot opened.
The policeman was eased out
of his hiding place by the fact
that the fringe parking lot is
brightly Illuminated every night
of the week. Mall parkers were
deprived of their places SO tour
lists would have a convenient
place to park, officials insist.
Mall Parkers Bitter.
The old Mall parkers, by and
large, are not content with that
official explanation. Many have
bitterly complained that they
feel the city put the new re-
striction into effect to force them
into either private parking lots
or the fringe lot.
Mr.. Rodes denies this, as does
the Washington Parking Asso-
citation - the private operators
trade organization.
However, an official of National
Capital Parks. which controls the
Mall, said that his Office wanted
to cooperate with the District
in its fringe parking project by
taking some parking out of the
congested area of the city.
"The feeling" he said, twas
that there Is no sense in giving
free rides and free parking. too. /"
Second Lot Planned.
Mr.. Rodes said that plans for
a second fringe lot, hear the
present lot site, are nearing COM
pletion. Cost estimates are 10
be ready Tuesday. It is under
stood that the second lot will
cost about the same as the first
about $4,000.
Whether the second project
is undertaken hinges on the
success of the present lot. Even
If the number of lot users con-
tinues to increase DUNG the first
month, the parking agency must
brace for the impact of Capital
Transit's charging for the bus
service after the 30-day trial.
The company is keeping ac-
count of operational costs during
this period so that the Public
Utilities Commission may have
DATA in setting a reasonable fare
for the special run which now
is made by II buses.
Arlington Squirrels
Found Not Rubid::