Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
TRANSFORMATION in 1880

The results of the Washington areas
Mass Transportation Survey, conducted
during the last four years at cost Of
about 100000, are described in detail
elsewhere in today'S Star.
A first reaction to the long-awaited
report is likely to be one Of incredulity,
not only at the $24 billion cost estimate
of the proposed transportation system,
but at the facilities themselves rapid
transit trains Scooting in and out Of
SubwayS, express buses tipping unham-
pered downtown from the suburbs, and
more gigantic freewayS than most Of
us have ever imagined might really be
built here.
Actually, we doubt that the regional
planners who conducted the survey be-
lieve, themselves, that the steps they
have outlined will be followed precisely.
Certainly there will not be unanimous
agreement on the system. And the re-
port makes a great number of aSSump-
lions about the willingness and capa-
bility of both the Federal and local
governments to perform certain func-
lions. These assumptions involve policy
decisions that will not be reached easily
or quickly. Yet no one who reads the
report can really question the need to
expand our past efforts by some such
gargantuan proportions to cope with the
staggering traffic projections of 1880 and
beyond. The transportation report, in
this respect, should be regarded as
starting point rather than as final
pattern for action. Accepted this way,
it can be an invaluable document.
Regardless of details, there are two
basic points which we believe the report
establishes beyond question. The first is
that some draStically improved system
of public transit is essential to the health
of the region. The only alternativeS-to
do nothing or to rely entirely on high
ways, Strangling ourselves with auto
mobiles and destroying millions of dol
lars worth of property with concrete
roads and parking garages-are equally
unacceptable.
The second point is that no sub
stantial progress can be made in area
transportation without some form of
area-wide political organization, some
metro device to handle both the eco
nomic and administrative problems, of
regional system. Probably the best EVIL
dence of this is the fact that more than
half the cost of the projected facilities
$13 billion of the $24 billion total
would fall within the District. There is
no intention here to complain that this
is unfair to the District. The fact is
simply that such a situation is impos-
on a regional basis.
There will be great deal of talk
about the transportation report from
now on, of which The Star intends to
do it's share We hope this eliminates,
as planned, in meaningful series of
public hearings next fall before Senator
Bibles Joint Committee on Washington
Metropolitan Problems.
Meanwhile, there is one immediate
step which the report properly urges
that Congress take this session-ratif1-
cation of the compact which would set
up an interstate commission to regulate
public transit in the Washington area.
The commission could make substantial
improvements in existing transit, and
lend unifying influence to tranSporta-
ton generally. The legislatures of Mary
land and Virginia, where opposition was
expected, ratified the compact speedily.
For Congress to drag its feet now would
be a most diSheartening augury for
the future.