Evening star., 1954-11-08
Transportation
Study Seeks CuI
InFederaICost
$40 Million Saving
Sought by Pooling
U. S.-RGn Vehicles
BY William A. MilIen

"A %1U mlIllOn annual saving
to the taxpayers, through elimi-
nation Of duplication, is the goal
Of a Federal Government study
about to be launched into Gov
ernment 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 Gov
ernment operate their own bus
service, not only here, but
throughout the country. The
Washington area study Is slated
to start this week.
It is estimated about ! million
passengers here ride free on
Government vehicles annually.
President Eisenhower is ex<
pected to set in motion special
organization to consider the
whole problem about December
!. 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 will give the agencies con-
cerned an opportunity to appeal
from the findings.
The Defense Department says
it now has about 1,1O0 pas
enger-carrying administrative
vehicles operating in the Wash
ington area. These include am
balances, but exclude wreckers,
trucks, scooters, jeeps, motor
cycles and other specialized ve-
hicles. They include $50 auto
mobiles, 200 buses, some 275
station wagons and carryalls and
SIS 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 Fort
Belvoir, Va. These include We
hicles of the Army, Navy and Air
Force. The David Taylor Model
Basin at Carderock, Md, the
Naval Research Laboratory at
Bellevue, the Main Navy Build
ing, the Navy Annex. the Pen
tagon, 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 Communications Gen.
ter, Massachusetts, and Nebraska
avenues NV, and the Naval Re-
search Laboratory. They conduct
the interstate operations, while
the Gray Line runs largely with
in the city, under this contract
with four buses.
Edmund F. Mansure, the ad-
ministrator of General Services
is Spearheading the move. He
wants to be sure in setting ur
any pool economy will be devel-
oped and transportation will con.
tinue. He is interested in elm.
mating, where possible, duplicat-
ing personnel, maintenance, sery.
ice, facilities and equipment.
To Formulate Program.
John B. Hanson, director, Mo.
tor Vehicle Division of GSA, vii
work with the heads of the prin'
cipal Government agencies, in al
effort to formulate the program
Qualified technicians will max,
studies in Washington, Chicago
San Francisco and elsewhere, h,
said.
Our studies will extend even
tually to 100 areas" said MI
Hanson. "When completed, thi
work is likely to result in estab
fishing 100 pools or systems an,
the savings to the Government o
as much as $40 million annually
II anticipate a Is per cent re
duction in the number of vehicl
: needs, both here and through
out the country. We have ha,
a pilot operation in Denver anc
as result of our studies, ther
was a 80 per cent reduction an,
we saved $2O0,bO0 annual
there.
"GSA motor equipment spe
cialiSts viii make studies wit
the help Of the agency con
cerned. 1t does not necessaril,
mean that GSA will operate tn
pool that is most efficient O
economical. But all existing sys
TENS will be consolidated int
q pool where practicable.
In the GSA in Washington
we lean toward the use of taxi
In zones | and 2. For by thi
method, GSA saved over $4,000
In the past year. through th
elimination Of chauffeur-driye,
cars" Mr.. Hanson asserted.