Evening star., 1955-02-11
Transit Study
0pensAsNew
Unit Organizes
Commission Aide
Digs Into Doto for
Area Solutions

Robert E. Mclaughlin, chair
man of the District Public Utili-
ties Commission, yesterday was
named to head a newly organ
lied body charged with studying
mass transportation problems in
the Washington area.
The name of the new group
is the Joint Commission to Study
Passenger Carrier Facilities in
the Washington Metropolitan
Area. 1t consists of three mem
bers each from Maryland, Vir-
ginia and the District. The
State legislatures appointed their
delegates; the District Commits
sioners. those from the traffic
snarled Nations Capital.
A full representation from the
District and Virginia turned out
for the closed organizational
luncheon-meeting at the Army
and Navy Club yesterday. Only
one member from Maryland was
able to attend owing to the press
OF business of the General As
sembly now in session.
AS a result of the limited at
tendance. balloting was limited
only to the chairmanship and
vice chairmanship. j. Maynard
Magruder. Arlington delegate to
the Virginia Legislature, was
chosen for the latter post.
Next Session Set.
February % was set tenta-
lively as the date for the next
session, at which time other
officers will be selected and a
preliminary report submitted on
the material that is available
for study.
Chairman Mclaughlin re-
ported, at the close of yester-
days meeting. that Arthur T.
Sonnenberg, a transportation
economist with the District util-
tiles body. was instructed to
start a study of the "basic in
formation" on mass transit in
the three jurisdictions.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said the ma
terial gathered by his aide, who
also is serving as the joint COM
missions transit co-ordinator, is
to be useful not only
to the joint group but to the
National Capital Regional Plan
ming Council.
$780, 900 Asked.
A request for a 100000 sup
Elemental appropriation for the
current fiscal year was made in
Congress yesterday to enable the
planning council. under the aegis
Of the National Capital Planning
Commission, to conduct an in
tensive survey of area transit
needs. If granted, these funds
for the most part would osten-
sibly be used to hire a private
firm to make the
study.
The major aims of the joint
Mr. Mclaughlin
are to study ade-
luacy of mass transit passen-
ger mass transportation, deter
nine whether fares are proper
md decide whether mass transit
n the Metropolitan Area should
,e regulated by joint three-juris-
lictional compact.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said at least
IN interim report to the joint |
should be ready by
he end of the year. If Con-
'ress grants the 100000 appro-
,riation for the regional council |
tudy, that undertaking probably |
would not be completed for about
wo years, he estimated.
Others Present.
Joint commission members
present yesterday were. in addi-
ion to Mr.. Mclaughlin and Mr..
Aagruder. Col Thomas A. Lane,
District Engineer Commissioner,
nd Harland Bartholomew, chair
nan of the National Capital
flaming Commission, represent
ng the District.
Those from Virginia were
Charles r. Fenwick, State
senator, and H. Lester Hooker,
hartman of the State Corpora
ion Commission. which regu-
ates public utilities.
Maryland was represented by
rank Harper. of the State Pub
lc Service Commission. public
Utilities regulatory body. The
wo absentees were General As
emily Delegates Perry o. Will