Evening star., 1959-11-16
U.S.. and City Study
Transit estimony
Begin Review
Of Hearing on
Disputed PIon
BY GRACE BASSETT
Star stad Writer

Federal and area officials to-
day began a complicated re-
assessment of the proposed SIS
billion transportation program
from the Washington Metro
politan Area.
Before them, for the first
time, was a record of a six-day
hearing that revealed a sharp
division of area sentiment on
majorm aspects of the plan.
Testimony before the Joint
Congressional Committee on
Metropolitan Washington last
week is being Scrutinized at the
Federal Budget Bureau and the
National Capital Planning
Commission in particular.
Bureau officials have prom
ised to draft legislation to set
up some kind of agency to start
work on the program, which
envisions a combined system Of
freewayS, subWays and mass
transit. This original program
was drafted by the commission
and its sister body, the Regional
Planning Council.
Federal aid, either through
loans or grants, was the only
proposal that won unanimous
approval at hearings.
LineupS in Financing
Planners favored Federal
financial assistance to subsidize
transportation as a public serv-
ice like water and sewer services.
D. c. Transit President o. Roy
Chalk wanted Federal guar
anteeS of private mortgages or
loans to build up his existing
network. A tax subsidy to pri-
vate operators was favored by
Representative Broyhill, Repub-
lican of Virginia.
Area transit and railroad
companies wanted some kind
of public assistance, but did not
specify the form.
Lineups on financing showed:
BOnds-Planners for, if COM
bined with Federal aid.
Taxes-Planners for reluc-
family, if needed to pay off
public bond issues. Against
taxes were area citizens and the
District Commissioners, unless
suburban residents carried a
load equal to that of District
taxpayers.
On operating systems. these
principal conflicts developed:
MOnOrail - For. Mr.. Chalk.
Against, area planners and
competing bus companies.
Subway-For. planners and
District Commissioners if Fed
eral aid is forthcoming. Against,
Mr.. Chalk and the Commits
sioners, the latter in the alb
sence of Federal aid.
OrganizatiOnal Plan Reaction
Supplemented private lines
For, all transit companies and
railroads serving the Metro
politan Area, Mr.. Broyhill and
Engineer Commissioner A. C.
yelling. Against, the Planning
Commission, if such extension
requires tax subsidies or ex-
cludeS development of plans
for an eventual partial public
operation.
FreewayS-For the total pro-
gram, the American Automobile
Association, area highway de-
partmentS and a number Of
citizens. Against such a vast
system, the majority of officials
and citizens, particularly
Northwest Washington resi-
dents who protested radials to
the city center through high
value neighborhoodS.
Proposed organizational plans
met these divided reactions:
An inter- State commission
For planners and District Com
mlSsionerS, as a first step, and
Mr.. Broyhill as the continuing
agency in charge. Against, Mr..
Chalk, his management and his
labor forces.
A Federal cOrporation-For
the Budget Bureau, area PLAN
nerS and District Commission
ers, the latter only if the de-
cision is for a subway. Against,
Mr.. Chalk, if this agency is one
of a series of three proposed
over a period of time to or
ganize transportation.
Throughout, Mr.. Chalk was
at odds with the authors of the
program. The District Com
miSSioners accepted part and
rejected part of the program.