Evening star., 1959-12-10
TWoBus Firms
Offer Plan 10
Speed Traffic

Suburban Virginia's two bus
companies, unhappy with Q
proposed mass transportation
plan. have formed their own
program to unsnarl trans
Potomac traffic.
Among other things, they
call for staggered work hours.
revised free parking priv
lileges for Federal employees. ex-
panded bus routing in down.
town Washington, and easing
of transit taxes, and a strict
enforcement of parking and
stopping restrictions on thor
oughfares.
The AB&w Transit Co.
and the WV&M Coach Co.
set forth their mutual views
in a letter. mailed yesterday,
to the joint Congressional
Committee on Washington
Metropolitan Problems. The
committee had asked the com.
panies. and other interested
Organizations, for information
in connection with the mass
transportation plan.
Sharp Criticism
The plan, devised by the
National Capital Planning
Council. was sharply criticized
last night by r. T. Mitchell, ex-
ecutive vice president of
AB&W and w. w. Wheeler, vice
president and assistant general
manager Of WV&M, before the
Arlington Committee Of 100, an
Organization Of civic leaders.
Mr.. Mitchell declared the
mass plan gives transit COM
panieS "the liberation, or nec-
essary evil treatment" and "en-
visions deficit-operating transit
systems whereas the Virginia
companies have offered paid-up
systems.
He added that rapid transit
rail service proposed in the
plan "is not supported by facts
and the money for it would
never be recouped in fares"
He said one suggestion in
the plan-for new and i'm
proved transit equipment-al-
ready is being met by the two
companies. Forty -one buses,
costing $1.250.000 are on order
and expected next year.
Proposals Submitted
Noting that the Joint COM
mittee had asked the company
how they could provide express
service to and from the Dis
trict. Mr.. Mitchell. reading
from the letter, offered these
proposals:
/. Ban parking on major
transit routes from Z am. to
n pm. and provide exclusive
bus lanes where practical.
2. Strictly enforce the no.
parking and stopping regula-
tions.
3. Provide more convenient
bus stops downtown.
4. Provide more considera-
ton to buses when routes are
being repaired. (He cited what
he called unsatisfactory con-
ditions on Twelfth street, now
involved in construction to the
Mall.
S. Provide quicker notiflca-
ton to bus companies by Fed
eral agencies when employees
are released early.
6. Establish a realistic stag
gering Of work hours to mini.
mize peak traffic conditions.
(Mr. Wheeler estimated that q
simplified staggering of hours
would reduce trafiic problems
10 per cent?
Z. Make parkways available
for buses whenever feasible,
without restrictions and extra
taxes. (Mr. Mitchell noted
that his company pays a fee
to use the George Washington
Memorial Parkway
Parking Subsidy" Hit
Mr.. Mitchell also read this
excerpt from the letter:
"Indiscriminate e establish
ment of free parking for Gov
ernment employees has a
definite adverse effect upon
transit patronage. This free
parking results in q form of
subsidy to the employe who
elects to use his automobile :"
The companies have count
cred, suggesting:
l. Reasonable fee" for
Federal employe parking or,
2. Free transit rides ito an
equal extend to eliminate the
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