Evening star., 1960-09-01
Congress Approves
Ninth st. Hotel Plan
New AeencyHeud. Sees
Transit Plans as Model
BY GILBERT GIMBLE
Star Stan Writer

Star Stan Writer
H. Holmes Vogel, the Chesa-
peake & Potomac Telephone
Co. executive named by Presi-
dent Eisenhower to head the
Metropolitan Areas new mass
transportation agency, is cer-
tain that every city planner In
the country is going to be look
ling over his shoulder.
| Mr.. Vogel's name was sent
to the Senate yesterday for ap-
Ipointment as administrator of
the National Capital Transpor-
tation Agency. Five others
were named to the agency's ad-
visory board. They are Har-
land Bartholomew. Edward
IBurling. jr., F. Moran Nc
McConihe, William H. Moss and
Donald c. Hyde.
"This job" Mr.. Vogel said in
an interview last night, sis
more than just a challenge TO
those of us who will be con-
nected with it. 1t is going to
be a model for mass transpor-
tation planning for communi-
ties throughout the entire Ma
ton"
Plans AnybOdy's Guess
| What the plans the National
Capital Transportation Agency
staff will finally come up with
when it reports to Congress is
still anybody's guess. Mr.. Vogel
feels that drawing up these rec
concentrations is the agency's
primary job. But. he is the last
man to say at this time what
those plans are going to in
tclude.
AS Mr.. Vogel puts it: II do
not intend to prejudge any of
this. Making these decisions
will be the job of the agency in
the months ahead"
One of the guide lines for the
agency, however, is the report
Eof the mass transportation
survey which recommended a
$2.4 million system of freeways
and express transit facilities to
& handle the Metropolitan Areas
transportation needs for the
year 1880. ~
That same report, issued a
year ago, also urged establish
ment of the mass tIansporta-
ton agency to plan and develop
the metro system.
Update the Transit Study
!, Mr.. Vogel believes that one
of the first thing the agency
has to do is to bring the mass
transportation study up to date.
/ He noted that since the re-
port was issued planners have
been expressing various opin-
ions on its conclusions. The
report urged establishment OF
four highspeed subway and
surface rail transit lines to
serve the area, and $50 miles
/ of freeways for automobiles
and express bus lines.
There are those, Mr.. Vogel
noted, who believe emphasis
can be placed on freeways and
Fexpressways and there others
who feel more reliance should
be placed on subways or rapid
rail transit.
What we have to do is take
IAN objective look at the entire
report from the standpoint of
making use of all types of
transportation.V the telephone
company vice president said.
When Congress appropriated
funds for the agency it re-
duced by half the 100000
originally sought for its opera
tions. 1t also limited the num-
Der of personnel to 25. Some
planners said the cut will
hamper the agency's work.
But Mr.. Vogel said he is not
concerned with the cut at this
time. 1t is his understanding,
he said, that he will be allowed
to seek additional funds in
January if he can justify the
need.
Telephone Man 81 Years
/ 4 Mr.. Vogels entire career has
been with the telephone COM
4pany. A graduate engineer, he
started with the company 81
years ago. He plans now to re-.
ttire, at the age of So, in order
ito take the $4,000 a year
transportation post.
! Long active in local civic
affairs, Mr.. Vogel is chairman
of the Citizens Planning Advi-
sorry Council, and is a member
of the Districts Urban Renewal
Council. He is also chairman
of the economic development
committee of the Metropolitan
! Washington Board of Trade
and is president of the Mary
land District of Columbia Utili-
ties Association.
| To avoid any possible con-
! f1ict of interest, he will resign
from these citizens groups.
The best-known planner on
the advisory board is Mr. Bar
tholomew, a pioneer in city
planning. For 80 years, prior
to his retirement last year, he
was associated with the Ma
tional Capital Planning Com
mission and helped develop the
mass transportation survey.
Bartholomew a Veteran