Evening star., 1955-07-07
I roffic Pottern Hordens:
OHicioIs Gather Doto

.nef DQr0
per business yesterday. Other
operators reported this situa-
ton: They have more all-day
parkers. but fewer short time.
Ideal short-term parking periods
are between 800 am. and noon
and 2 to 4 pm.
4. Suburban transit lines feed-
ing downtown Washington, gen.
orally report a fall-off in busi-
ness. which they attribute to
more use of private cars. Police
urged strongly that these lines
be used whenever possible to cut
auto congestion
A check of downtown park
ing lots today showed that those
nearest Government and private
office buildings were doing the
best business. Some, west of the
White House, had "lot full''
signs out. mostly occupied by ALL
day parkers. Those nearer the
shopping area reported space
available.
Hardest hit of the suburban
lines is Suburban Transit Co.,
since many of its buses connect
with Capital Transit routes. One
official of the line estimated rev.
|enues We're 'toff 30 to 40 per
cent"
A. B. & w. Volume Dips
Robert T. Mitchell, executive
vice president of A. B. & w
Transit Co.. said business was of
4 to S per cent, also largely pe-
cause much of our business is
c on ctions with Capital
Transit"
I'VE have a through ticket
book arrangement with Capital
Transit which anticipates a
combination ride" he explained
"As a person is unable to use
one half the ride now, he ar
ranges through ride on private
transportation"
At the same time. however
most Of the lines make some con-
nections near big employment
centerS, and officials urged riders
to take advantage of space avail.
able on buses.
S. A. De Stefano. Of the Wash
Iington- Virginia Maryland Coach
Co. tArnold Lines) said his firm
estimates drops o. $3.50 to $25s
a day in gross revenues.
Only line apparently suffering
no Ill effects is the W. M. A
Transit Co. which parallels some
Capital Transit routes in South
east Washington and picks ur
passengers within the District
E. c. Giddings, Capital Transit
vice president, said his firm car
Iried between 100000 and 600, ,0O(
patrons q day before the strike
lin fleets of 760 buses and 38C
Istreetcars. Most of the vehicles
were on the street during morn
ing and evening rush hours.
What are these patrons doing
now? How many of them still
are coming to town daily?
The District studies now under
way will throw some light or
these questions. but are not ex.
pected to answer them con.
clusively.
| It would take Ia month, TO,
example, officials said, for cit,
engineers to tabulate volumes O
traffic entering the city. Ant
data from previous studies wa
not directly comparable to pres
lent conditions.
The previous traffic counts hat
shown that about $50, 900 car
cross the District line normal,
Ievery day. About 100000 cars
either coming or going, normal,
cross a line every "a hour.
around the central business area
+ Police Complimented
Deputy Police Chief John 7
Agnew and Wallace Braun, act
ing Traffic Director. meanwhile
are looking into a number O
possibilities for further relievin,
traffic. They are especially in
Iterested in whether more street
|can be made one-way if tn
strike drags on, but so far in
sisted their studies aren't .eyel
ion paper"
Police handed out numerou
: tickets, both last night and thi
!, morning, to motorists who in
: sisted on parking in area
; banned during rush hours. Pc
lice urged that motorists VIII,
leave their cars in such space
after $3.50 am. be sure they cal
( get back to them by 4 pm. Sucl
, restricted curb spots are clearl,
marked.
Watch Signs, Police Say
/ Pclice also warned commuter
10 watch the signs rather thai
, otner parkers, and cited this a
an example:
/ Parking has been banne,
, since the strike started on tn
Connecticut avenue streetca
5 tracks between L street an,
Rhode Island avenue N. w. Yes
teroay d woman parked on tn
tral ks "for about two minutes
/ while she dashed into a store
5 When she returned, the track
, were about half filled with cars
They all got tickets, and to
day police barricaded the tracks
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