Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-11
Federal Aid Suggested
In City I ronsit Field
BY FRANCIS P. DOUGLAS


BY FRANCIS p. DOUGLAS
Federal aid. o major factor
In highway development. may be
extended to cities to build rapid
transit facilities development
which would be Of tremendous
importance in solving Washing
toms traffic problems.
The House Public Works Com
mittee. according to its chair
man. Representative Fallon.
Democrat Of Maryland, will hold
hearings on proposals for match
ing funds to aid construction Of
rapid transit facilities II q de-
mand develops.
With cities throughout the Ma
ton seeing their business dis
tricts strangled by the traffic
brought downtown by the Fed
erally-aided highways. 1t Is re-
garded as certain that such a
demand will develop.
District Commissioner Robert
L. Mclaughlin said the city
Government would be In favor
Of such q proposal.
He pointed out that Federal
aid for rapid transit would tie
In with the Districts Mass
Transit Survey now under way.
The survey is to cover the transit
problems Of the whole area. Con-
gress appropriated 100000 to
get the project under way. with
$500, 900 more promised later.
Transit experts have watched
with dismay the strangulation Of
downtown districts - and the
mass transit facilities serving
them-by the flood Of private
automobiles subsidized by Fed
eral and State government high
way expenditures.
Their arguments for Govern
ment aid for rapid transit. which
were outlined to Mr.. Fallon, run
this way:
Highways, built by States and
cities with so per cent Of the
money coming from the Federal
Government, have made it easier
for people to drive their cars
TO work and shop.
AS the numbers Of cars On the
streets and highways has in
creased, street cars and buses
carrying the majority OF the
population have been slowed
down.
Slowing the mass transit
facilities has made even more
people drive their own cars.
This further slows the move
ment Of traffic and cuts into the
revenues Of the transit systems.
The answer so far has been
TO build even more highways to
relieve the traffic congestion.
These bring even more private
automobiles onto the highways
and streets and into the busi-
ness districts and slow down.
town trafilc still more.
The way out. according to the
transit people. Is only to be
found in separate rights Of way
surface. subway or elevated
for the mass transit systems.
IF this Is done. and transit
systems are made speedy, con-
venient and comfortable. they
win lure back the motorists. The
automobile driver would also
benefit by reduced trafic jams.
Private capital cannot be found
for such rapid transit sytems be-
cause the Government subsidies
the transit systems competitors.
the motorists. Therefore, instead
of spending all Of the millions on
highways. spend some Of them on
rapid transit systems with pri-
vate right-of-way.
Might Match Funds
It is argued that such facilities
could be built In many places II
the Federal Government would
match funds put up by cities
or other governmental jurisdic-
tons, perhaps on a $3.50 basis.
The city might finance its part
by issuing revenue bonds. II the
city has private operation of its
transit service it could lease the
high-speed syStem-a subway or
o trolley line on a private right
of-way-to the operating COM
pany.
Washington now has three
highway projects under way.
Each is financed so per cent by
Federal highway funds.
Millions are involved. The
projects are designed TO facii-
tate by-passing the center Of
the city. They win also make It
easier for residents Of outlying
areas to drive to and from the
center Of the city.
One Ia the Wentworth Avenue
Freeway east Of the Anacostie
River and connecting the East
Capitol Street Bridge with the
Ra1tirnorn.W Wa af,inuknys Darkwyav