Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-09
The Transit Mess

l read with amusement the
letters sent to the House and
Senate District Committees by
the District government, as
noted in The Star of January
3. The chairman of the Pub
lie Utilities Commission stated,
g. it has become automatic
in modern transit economics
that streetcar operation
under present traffic condi-
lions is not economically feas-
ible." Further down, he states.
I'm Cleveland, Chicago and
Toronto, public authorities pro-
vide modern. efficient. pro-
gressive and financially sound
mass transportation services"
I agree with this last state
ment. but the chairman might
be interested to know that
Toronto has over TOO modern
streetcarS. and to the best of
my knowledge has no inten-
ton Of scrapping this fine rail
system. Toronto did abandon
one of its heaviest passenger
rail lines not long ago. But
what was it replaced by? A
brand-new subway. which has
so attracted patronage that
additional orders had TO be
placed with the car manufac-
turer to take care of this in
crease. submit that any pub
lie transit authority that comes
into being here should exam
Inc the mode Of operation Of
our northern neighbor.
Keep up your impartial and
sensible coverage of the local
transit mess.
Ara Mesrobian.
I have been following the
current dispute over public
versus private ownership of the
Capital Transit Co. with in
terest. 1t has been annoying to
read so much talk about an
all-bus system.
I cannot understand why
supposedly able administra-
tors advocate an all-bus system
for the District. The rolling
stock and trackage OF the sys-
tenn appears to be excellently
maintained throughout the
area. The cars are among the
finest in the country. Their
speed in traffic is excellent
and the use Of loading zones in
the downtown area facilitates
speed by allowing traffic to pass
a stopped car. A large, cumber-
some bus stopped at curbside
holds up q lane Of traffic while
passengers squeeze through
small front doors. For moving
large crowds. the roomier
streetcar is unsurpassed. Why
waste millions Of dollars worth
Of good equipment by selling
1t at a fraction of original cost.
spending millions for buses and
then spending additional mil
lions for tearing up tracks?
Instead of all this needless ex-
pense, that money could go
toward improvement of exist
ing facilities.
I believe the main reason
for all this talk of buses is a
result of an idea that started
prior to World War II, that
buses are the answer to mod
ernization. In many areas to-
day 1t has been proven that the
only really fast means Of
transit is by rail. The private
auto is alleged to hold up the
streetcar in traffic. If it does
this, it is hard to believe that
a bus will make better progress
than a streetcar, unless, Of
course, the bus is able to fly up
in the clouds where many
transit operators minds appear
to be.
The riding public Is hardly.
II ever, considered when
company changes over. 1t is a
fact that the longer. roomier
streetcar is universally pre-
ferred to the crowded and
usually smelly bus. However.
the public-be- damned attitude
Of transit magnates predom-
mates.
1 would rather ride in my
own car than in a smelly,
packed bus; not so with the
streetcars. If etc goes all
bus then they can consider
themselves as having lost an
other customer.
1t is about time the public
woke up and fought this ridicu-
lous business by a group that
has plenty to say about public
transit though never riding