Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-03-10
AGENCY
AGENCY
7 ronsit May Need
$50 Million by '63
Continued From First Page

OOutAuueu FROM FlrSt rage
otherwise would be operated at
O loss.
4. Acquisition of rights of
way, particularly wide strips in
new freeways for buses and
trains. This is a priority chore
Of the first agency, since land
acquisition for new freeways is
underway now.
5. Construction of one of four
major proposed rail transit
lines. Mr.. Stats said a
possibility is a northwest rail
across the downtown area TO
link with existing railroad COM
muter services at Union Sta
ton.
All i've steps are part of a
$2.4 billion transportation pro-
gram envisioned last year in a
study by the National Planning
Commission and Regional Plan
ming Council. Presumably, this
study would provide guidelines
for action by the agency called
for by the administration.
Recommended by the study
were four rapid rail lines radi-
ating from downtown WASH
ington toward Rockville, Whea.
ton, Alexandria and Anacostia.
About half of the 80 miles of
rails - estimated to cost $485
million - would be in subways.
After analyzing the study.
Budget Bureau officials told
the Joint Congressional Com
mittee on Washington Metro
politan Problems last Novem-
ber that the areas greatest
transportation need was rapid
transit.
Defines Responsibilities
Since November, they have
been drafting the bill, which
defines for the first time both
Federal and local responsible
ties for providing rapid transit.
THE Federal interest is that
this is the Nations Capital"
Mr.. Stats explained. And
the single most important ele-
ment in the future development
of the Nations Capital is
transportation"
The local interest was crys-
tallized in a series of con-
ferences held by bureau draft
ers with area governing and
planning officials, civic leaders
and private transit operators.
These conversations convinced
the administration that the
start on the massive program
must be made comparatively by
Federal and area representa-
tives.
Thus the Federal agency,
with functions closely linked to
local governing and business
interests, was proposed.
I'VE hope, we have expecta-
tions, that area officials gen.
orally will be favorably inclined
toward this agency approach"
Mr.. Stats said.
Objections Expected
Objections are expected
from transportation companies.
I'VE are hesitant to say we
have met their objections"
bureau spokesman added.
Frankly, we doubt that we
have met them fully. We don't
see clear reconciliation in
some. areas"
But the administration in
serted four provisos expressly
designed to quell fears of pro-
vate operators that the proposed
legislation might lead to I'M
fair public competition with
private operations. These four
safeguards for private enter
prise we're:
/. A declaration by Congress
that the Federal policy, in CO.
operation with State and local
governments, is Ito make full
use of private enterprise when
ever appropriate, Ito recognize
and preserve the advantages
of both private and public con-
tributions to the development
of Transportation" and to
promote service without unjust
determinations, undue pref
erences or advantages. :"
2. A promise to submit all
parts of the transportation
program of the Federal agency
ito private companies trans
porting persons in the National
Capital region for review and
comment"
3. A ban on agency acquisi-
ton of facilities, property, or
rights of way Of private transit
companies and persons" The
agency also would be prohibited
from operating buses or sim
liar motor vehicles" or from
making agreements to provide
such services.
Fare Considerations
4. A requirement that the
corporation, if established, set
fares only after taking into &C
count fare structures of exist
ing transit companies. Fares
set by the corporation for its
own rapid rail operations must
be reasonably comparable and
nondiscriminatory" in relation
to private fares.
1.-THE Federal Government
has a real financial interest in
encouraging private opera
TONS" Mr.. Stats said. Our
capital outlay and hopefully
our operating expenses would
be reduced by continued private
service"
Specifically, the administra-