Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
Senate Unit
Hears Plea for
Transit Study
Agencies Unanimous
For Area Project,
Committee Is Told
By Harold B. Rogers

The Senate Appropriations
Committee today heard unani-
nous testimony in support Of
funds to finance a mass trans
portation survey in the WASH
ington Metropolitan Area.
Witnesses speaking for agen-
cies representing the District.
Maryland and Virginia told the
committee they favored the
5000. 1000 approved for the sur
vey by the House. But they
agreed, on a request to the
Senate group, to make it clear
in the committees report that
the 100000 is just the Begin
ming of a survey expected to run
for three years.
Urges Qualification
Principal spokesman, John
Nolen, director of the National
Capital Planning Commission,
said the reason for appearing
before the Senate group was not
so much to support the item Of
100000 approved by the House.
A more pressing reason, he ex-
planned, was to urge the Senate
group to clarity in its report
some questions raised by the
language of the House Com
mittee report.
The item, carried in the SUD-
Elemental appropriation bill.
would authorize the survey to be
made by the National Capital
Planning Commission and the
National Capital Regional Plan
ming Council.
Other witnesses supporting the
proposal were Robert E. Nc
Laughlin, chairman of the Dis.
trict Public Utilities Commits
sion, and Paul Watt, director Of
the Regional Planning Council.
Now Unanimously Supported
Mr.. Nolen emphasized that
support for the mass transporta-
ton survey this year was unani-
nous on the part of all agencies
concerned, whereas last year
there had been difference Of
opinion. This unanimity was
pointed out also by Mr.. Nc
Laughlin. chairman of a new
interstate commission represent.
ing the District, Virginia and
Maryland.
The joint commission. he said.
consists of nine men from three
Jurisdictions who already have
begun preliminary study on
transportation problems of the
area This Joint commission,
he said. has passed a resolution
approving the study proposed
by the planning commission and
its regional council.
Expressing great hopes" for
results benef1ting the whole
area, Mr.. Mclaughlin explained
that the work of his Joint COM
mission would be complement
tary" with that of the proposed
study under consideration.
For instance, he pointed out,
last year President Eisenhower
vetoed legislation providing for
a mass transportation study and
a regulatory commission, partly
because the State of Virginia
was left out of the regulatory
commission to control mass
transportation.
Virginia Acted First
1t was the Legislature of Vir-
GINA, he explained, which acted
first toward setting up the COM
mission. Virginia asked Mary
land and District each to appoint
three members to the joint
commission.
Already, he pointed out, the
nrSt meeting has been held on
a technical staff level and the
full interstate will meet right
after Easter.
The principal purposes of the
interstate group, he said, were
to make a comprehensive study
of conditions, the adequacy Of
transportation. the equity Of
rate and fares and whether it
would be desirable and feasible
to set up a new regulatory body
to control public mass trans
portation in the area.
Senator Ellender, Democrat,
Of louisiana asked why Federal
funds were requested for the
study by the Planning Commits
sion. Mr.. Nolen testified the
problem was an interstate one,
that Virginia and Maryland
would participate from the point
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