Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-20
Keep the TrolIeys

As a nonstockholding Gus
toner OF Capital Transit. and
as a civic-minded resident
concerned about the future. I
am impelled to urge caution
to avert mistakes that could
greatly injure. the health,
safety, and welfare Of the
people of the Washington
Metropolitan Area. The over
riding consideration concern
ing our local transit problem
should not be whether mass
transportation is to be fur
nished by a private company
or by an authority, but
whether steps taken to meet
an immediate crisis are in
harmony with measures that
may be regarded as urgent in
the not-too- distant future.
In its haste to enact Public
Law $50 prior to adjournment.
so that Capital Transit's riders
would not be without mass
transportation between con-
gressional sessions, Congress
apparently overlooked a con-
fiict between p. l.. $50. saith
Congress, and P. L. 500, 82d
Congress. In the latter-cited
law, enacted in 1852. Congress
directed the National Capital
Planning Commission and the
National Capital Regional
Planning Council to conduct q
study which, among other
things, will determine the types
OF mass transportation equip
ment--and most feasible
routes-necessary to cope with
various demand-patterns, and
clusters Of population. esti-
mated to exist in 1865 and
1880. On the other hand, p. L.
389 gives the District Com
missioners discretionary power
to order Capital Transit to re-
move all Of its vehicles and
tracks from public streets up
on expiration OF its charter
and franchise. In view Of the
fact that the study called for
in p. L. 500 has barely gotten
under way--with a final report
not due until october, 1857
does 1t not seem logical that
the decision on disposal or re-
tention Of CTC's fixed assets
should be deferred until the
results Of this comprehensive
study are announced. and have
been digested by those en-
powered to reject or imple-
ment these findings?
The Public Utility Commits
sion. DESTROYS Of assuring that
mass transportation be con-
tinued after August IA. 1856
without any interruption-ap-
parently believes that whole
sale removal Of Washington's
street-railway network. at
CTC's expense. and operation
OF an all-bus system by a
financially responsible oper-
ator, is the most feasible way
to assure continuity Of service.
But would service by a hastily
organized concern with shoe
string financing, with an in
adequate number Of buses. In
adequate maintenance facili-
ties. and shortages Of per-
sonnet Qualified to repair and
operate buses constitute con-
tinuity Of operations? The
P. U. c. and the District
Commissioners have never an
nounced q public hearing for
the purpose Of giving citizens
and organizations an oppor-
tunity to present their views
on the repercussions Of all-bus
operation. The Commission
ers regard their preference for
buses as an executive decision.
which cannot be questioned by
the governed. Moreover. they
would commit a transit au-
thority to an all-bus operation
even before the members of
the authority were appointed!
What II the decision to OPP
crate buses exclusively should
contradict the october. 1887.
findings Of the regional plan
ming bodies? What If the plan
ming groups find that over
concentration OF diesel buses
In downtown Washington con-
stitutes a menace to public
health? Will the p. U. C. then
advocate the use Of trackless
electric trolley buses with their
multiplicity of overhead wires?
P. U. C. should bear in mind
that. in the late 1880s, when
Congress initially authorized
electric street-railway opera
tions. 1t provided that no over
head wires could be installed
in what was then the area of
the City Of Washington. The
construction Of underground
contact bars protected the
beauty of our city and pro-
NOTED public safety. the objec-
tives Congress had in mind.
Local officials have alleged
that streetcars are more costly
to operate than are buses.