Evening star., 1955-09-01
|Streetcor Advocates

Along with many others who
use public transportation in
the District, I trust there will
be no precipitate removal Of
the street railroad tracks.
Streetcars, due to their weight
and sturdy construction. run
ming on smooth steel rails. pro-
vide comfortable and safe rid
ing. From an economic stand
point. these streetcars In their
present condition should each
on the average outlast two
buses. However. 1t seems
likely there are. some who
would like to see the liquidat-
ing expenses of Capital Trans
it increased by forcing the
company to remove its tracks.
Also. immediate elimination
of the streetcars will. it would
seem, provide a problem for
the operators, as it will be diff
ficult for some Of the older men
to qualify as bus drivers. So
far as these operators are con-
cerned, 1t may be unfortunate
that Capital Transit will dis
continue operations next Au-
gust. because recent extensive
repair work by the company
would seem to indicate that it
had no immediate plans to
abandon its rail lines.
Observer.
4 +
Greater ''flexibility" Of the
bus system over Streetcars is
frequently given as a reason
for eliminating our cars. Who
wants greater fiexibility"?
Isn't 1t a plain fact that the
pressure for taking UP the
tracks comes mainly from the
motorists. who could drive
more comfortably If there were
no streetcars? AS for the
little people" who have no
cars or choose not to use them
in traffic. ask them which they
prefer. streetcars or buses.
One of Them.
4 4 \
1t Is my opinion that q great
many riders in Washington
prefer the streetcar to the bus.
l have been riding for more
than 40 years. and much
prefer the streetcar to the bus.
1t is more comfortable, the
difference in time, If any. is
not material and it is safer.
Another thing which should
have consideration, for the
time being at least, 10 the
fact that many of our old
experienced motormen, per-
haps. could not qualify to
drive buses and would there
fore be left without q Job il
streetcars should be done away
with in the near future. The
change-over should be very
gradual, II at all.
! am writing in behalf OF
the Cabin John streetcar line
and streetcars in general.
There are many of us living
in Arlington County, near
Chain Bridge, who depend on
Capital Transit's Cabin John
streetcar line. We use the line
not only because of the better
service and better connections
than the Arnold busline but
also because 1t is a carline
and not a busline. No bus.
be it gasoline or diesel, could
adequately take over the serv-
ices of the streetcar or even
compete with it.
In your editorial, Get the
. Facts First" criticizing the
PUG. for its rash proposal
to substitute buses for street.
cars. you made the statement
that the national transit trend
is that buses eventually will
replace streetcars. That is COM
pletely untrue. Why does San
Francisco want to buy new
streetcars: why did the Phila-
delphia Transit Company re-
Gently buy ninety second -hand
cars: why has the Toronto
Transportation Commission in
recent years bought new and
secondhand over TOO street.
cars, and why has the Otta-
wa Transportation Commits
sion made this statement:
I" :. they (streetcars) are still
regarded as the safest. most
comfortable and most eco
nomical means of urban trans
port -?
Since urban transportation
is the movement Of people, I
think a poll should be taken
to see what type Of vehicle
is most popular with the pub
lie. The traffic director would
like to get rid Of the street.
cars because it hampers his
one-way street program. How
ever. F and g streets could be
made one-way, keeping the
streetcars, and the remaining