Evening star., 1955-11-17
Rides City Heads
,fSee editorial. "Silence on

.tSeG SuttOTtut1 OHcHCC OH
TranSit."0
It is astonishing to observe
the shallow approach of Dis
trict 0fiicialdom to the transit
problem here. The Public Util-
tiles Commission apparently
plans acceptance of one Of the
pending bids, despite the con-
ditions which reputedly we're
attached to all of them-thus
depriying the Washington pub
lie of the wider competition
that might have developed had
other potential bidders known
in advance that conditional
proposals would be considered
and particularly had each
bidder been free to submit
his own best estimate Of the
situation, unhindered by arti-
fcial restrictions laid down by
the P. U. c. that were based on
personal philosophy rather
than economics.
It Is equally amazing to note
that no effort has been made
to tie disposition Of Capital
Transit to the area-wide tran
sit study recently authorized
by Congress- although 1t took
years of patient effort to Sc
cure such legislation in the
hope Of effectively working
out a long range transporta-
ton program for the Metro
politan Area---and despite the
fact that two of the District
Commissioners are members Of
the Regional Planning Coun-
ell which is conducting this
study.
It is curious to find in so
high q municipal ofiicial as
a District Commissioner a rea--
soning that justifies tax relief
and other special privileges
fof bus operations--but not for
the street railway system.
A personal pique toward Mr..
Wolfson by individuals who are
residents Of other parts Of the
country and only temporarily
concerned with D. c. munich
pal problems, is apparently to
determine the fate of a rail
network that could serve as
the starting point for a rapid
transit system. without the
slightest attempt at factual
analysis, and in complete dis
regard OF recommendations
by independent transportation
specialists that the street rail-
way system be retained.
It may be true that there
is d national trend toward
buses, but this trend Is based
strictly on economics. It is
just as true that there has
been an increase in rapid tram
sit lines In recent years--often
at great expense to the tax
payer. Washington has re-
fiected increased pressure for
such a system and 1t would
be much more pronounced If
taxicabs did not serve as a
partial substitute, That is one
reason there are so many cabs
in washington. Street railway
systems have not been aban-
doned where their continued
operation Is more economical
than buses. In addition they
have effectively bridged gaps
in development Of rapid tran
sit lines. as for example in
Toronto, Boston and Philadel-
phia. To simply Junk the fine
rail network in Washington
without exploring Its possibil-
tiles in this direction Is stupid.
The idea that abandonment
OF trolleys win leave Mr.. Wolf
son with white elephants on
his hands is erroneous. There
are too many cities with old
equipment that would be de-
lighted to pick up modern cars
at bargain prices. The net re-
suit will simply be to subsidize
riders elsewhere with modern
equipment that has already
been paid for by washington
ans, while the latter are being
saddled with the extra invest
ment required for replacement
vehicles. Neither Is tearing UP
the tracks necessarily going to
hurt Mr.. Wolfson. Steel de-
uldIlu 10 ht iii dli~bliAtC AiASAAt
and scrap steel brings q good
return today.
1t is too bad that the ON
cials concerned with this prob
lem do not themselves use pub
lie transportation. Otherwise
they might have q sharper APP
probation Of problems Of the
transit rider. The preoccnpa-
tion OF local authorities with
motor traffic is very evident
throughout the city--in timing
Of lights, placement Of stop
signs. establishment Of truck
routes, widespread winking at
moving violations. one-sided
enforcement Of pedestrian reg
ulations. etc.
It IL no wonder we Gee such