Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-05-10
Metro Survey
Muy Be q Flop,
Report Says
BY GRACE BASSETT
star stan Writer

~ O0aoANce AA Asso 20 aaN ASA
"mothballing" without at least
100000 more in research
funds. according 10 an analysis
issued today by Arthur La
zarus, consultant hired by tho
joint Congressional Commit
tee on Metropolitan Problems.
Committee Chairman Bible,
Democrat Of Nevada, released
the Lazarus report as q basis
for discussion at a public hear
ing before the metro unit May
%, % and 26.
Mr.. Lazarus listed 10 ave
nues Of further endeavors"
needed to chart a. transporta-
ton system of the future. Still
lacking despite the survey, he
said, are:
/. An idea Of what motivates
urbanites to use different
modes Of transportation.
2 Exploration of new travel
techniques, such as carveyors
that run on elevated belts.
3. Statistics on effects Of
land use on transport.
4 Practical observation Of
transportation methods rather
than the surveys book plan"
LiaisOn Lacking
S. Close relations among
officials of Congress, the Dis
trict, Maryland and Virginia
on highway matters.
s. Proof Of future trafic
estimates.
z Laison with transit off,
Gals. "The survey started
afresh to build an entirely new
scheme, with the risk Of COLLAPSE
ing present transit facilities"
8. Participation in the plan
of parking, taxicab and truck
ing interests.
8. Further cooperation from
regional and local planning
groups.
10. Advice of business inter-
ests. 1.-THE financing of trans
portation development has be-
come critical"
Sway System Seen
Mr.. Lazarus said the surveys
transportation plan could be
Surmised to be a combined
highway, rail and bus rapid
transit system. Considerable
underground construction prob
ably will be recommended, he
said, rather than transit lanes
on new highways.
Conclusions are due June 30,
he noted.
The committee consultant
said research indicated 300
miles of new freewayS were en-
visaged by survey engineers.
This would cost about $3.l bill
lion, he estimated, because only
8 per cent of the roadwayS have
been built.
His report was Sprinkled
with critical phrases. Praise Of
the survey was limited to such
remarks as: Nothing concrete
ION f1nancing) has been seen
but doubtless an adequate
presentation will be duly sub
mitted," and irrespective of its
broad brush character the
report is ingeniously conceived"
Specific Criticisms
Barbs interspersed through
out the 34-page report were
more pointed.
On general plan Develop
ment, he said the hired con-
sultant gave the survey IS days
of advice between July 8, 1855,
and February %. 1858.
A 1856 report on population
trends and land use is weak"
according to Mr.. Lazarus, who
pinpointed IL contract de-
mandS that, one after the
other, were mot found"
"sketchy," partially given"
He added that the survey
never came to grips with a
plan of general development
"or in the absence of an as
certained prevailing policy, felt
strong enough to take leader
ship in developing one"
He used a survey sponsors
description of the general plan
as not a bold" one, but gen
eral in nature"
OF II contracts, two were
according to Mr.. Lag
arus. One with Wilbur Smith
Associates to project traffic VOL
ume was Of such broad scope
as to "tax the ingenuity and
industry Of the selected con-
tractor" he said. Revised fig
ures from the Smith firm still
are awaited, now promised
May %,
The report recommends Con-
gress establish a Metropolitan
Transportation Deve emit
Board to carry out the 10 listed
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