Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-28
By FRANCIS P. DOUGLAS

IiG WdotIAI1SJOl 1ColuCklL VI
the future with the transit
system of the future at his
service will get to work in
downtown Washington this
way:
Assuming he lives in the
suburbs he will walk a few
blocks-not more than four
to the nearest busline His
bus and buses of other lines
in the area will converge on a
rapid transit station.
At the station the buses will
be driven on to specially de-
signed platform or fiat cars.
With the buses mounted pig
gy back on the cars and locked
into place, the cars will move
up ramp to an elevated mon
Grail or "monobeam."
The train Of cars with the
passengers seated in the same
buses they boarded near their
homes will speed along the
steel monobeam at so miles an
hour or more. Stops will be
made only at one or two mile
intervals.
Under the City
Near the center of the city
the monobeam ducks from its
elevated structure to a sub
way. The train speeds to the
end of the line at a big pas
senger interchange under the
Ellipse.
More wonders are to come.
Assume the passenger wants
TO go to the Civil Service Build
ing at Seventh and F streets
NV. He completes his trip
with little effort by under
ground "carveyor" and speed
walk" systems.
IS He steps from the bus and
takes the carveyor system
small cars moving along an
endless belt. He is whisked
along under Constitution ave-
nue.. At seventh street he
alights and moves to the speed
walk. which runs under Sew
enth street at 3 miles an hour.
He steps off at F street, climbs
to the surface and is practi-
cally at the door of his build
ing.
He has made the trip in less
time than if he had driven his
own car The total fare may
be less than he would pay at
current charges for transit
service. He has reached down.
town by rapid transit in the
same vehicle he boarded near
his home.
This system of transporta-
ton is the recommendation OF
Charles Stephenson. transpor-
tation consultant. It was out
lined recently by him before
the Federal City Council at q
meeting at the Hotel Statlet.
It would cost $3.50 million,
Mr.. Stephenson estimates.
But he is confident 1t would
pay for itself.
Tronsit Background
Mr.. Stephenson was with
the American Transit AsSoci-
alton in New York for IS years.
He was research associate to
the managing director and
shared in the development of
the Pee car. the trolley car
used in Washington and other
cities. He also was consultant
to transit companies in that
period. In 1945 he purchased
an interest In transportation
properties in Asheyille and
Raleigh, N. c., and was vice
president and operating man
ager. Three years ago he went
to Germany as consultant in
the development of the mono
rail system by the Alweg-
Ferschung company. 1t built
q two-mile test line near
Cologne.
In the system Mr.. Stephen
son recommends he attempts
to provide a complete answer
to the transportation problems
of the whole Metropolitan
Area. To do this, he said, It
is necessary to provide the
transit industry with a new
set of tools" instead Of
patching up the system with
inadequate piecemeal i'm
provements.
The aim is to furnish a
preferred system Of transport
tation-preferred over the pri-
vate automobile because of its
convenience, comfort, speed
and economy.
The two chief novelties in
Mr.. Stephenson's program are
the system of carveyors and
speedwalks for the circulation
of people in the downtown
area. and the monobeam rap
Id transit system.
Alreody in Use
Carveyors and speedwalks
have been developed by the
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
Speedwalks. endless belts
which might be likened to
moving staircases laid horizon
n