Evening star., 1960-05-07
Metro Transit Plan
Action Is Pledged
House-Senute
Groups Await
Druft by Stoff
BY JAMES G. DEANE
Star stan Writer

O- AAANoo VI dAAok&O4 IdllOll
agency.
The Joint Committee on
Washington Metropolitan Prob
lens is scheduled to receive its
staff proposals for a revised
transit bill late next week.
Representative Mcmillan,
Democrat of South Carolina,
vice chairman, after two days
of hearings which ended yes
terday, said the unit hopes to
pass a recommended measure
along to the Senate and House
District Committees promptly
Legislative leaders heard
strong testimony at the hear
ings favoring immediate crea-
ton Of an agency to plan and
possibly start building a CON-
muter rail network. Almost no
one opposed the general OBJ
jective. although o. Roy Chalk,
D. c. Transit System head, yes
terday expressed fears over his
firms future and urged that
private transit operators be per-
mitted to run any new transit
facilities.
Compromise Seen
Some witnesses reiterated
objections to a proposed Fed
eral corporation that might
take over the rail development
after several years. But this
obstacle may be skirted with a
compromise plan
The Joint committee has
scheduled a meeting for next
Friday. Mr.. Mcmillan said he
plans to have whatever comes
out Of the joint committee con-
sidered promptly by the House
District Committee, which he
heads. Similar action is ex-
pected from Senator Bible,
Democrat of Nevada, who heads
both the joint committee and
the Senate District Committee.
The Montgomery County
Council was among groups
speaking strongly yesterday for
the rail plan. Stanley B. Frosh,
a council member, said new
mass transit is vitally needed
and urged action in this ses-
sion of Congress.
Two Montgomery civic lead
ers, Robert S. Marvin of the
Montgomery Civic Federation
and Warren j. Vinton of the
Montgomery Citizens Planning
Association, said the proposed
transportation agency should
be given jurisdiction over high
way as we'll as rail develop
mentS.
SNO"oJ 0uCStAOucu
Similar views were voiced by
David s. Clark of the Commit
tee of 100 on the Federal City
and Peter S. Craig of the
Northwest Committee for
Planning.
Mr.. Craig attacked District
highway building plans as too
grandiose. He particularly as
sailed a plan to build both a
freeWay and a subway along
Wisconsin avenue at a cost of
$l2 million a mile each. Mr..
Mcmillan agreed with the
criticism.
A counter view in favor Of
continued stress on road build
ing was presented on behalf of
the Metropolitan Washington
Board of Trade Transportation
Committee, headed by John N.
Robertson, former District
highway director. The Robert
son statement said the trans
portation agency should be
barred from making decisions
on highways.
But William E. Press, the
trade groups executive vice
president, said the organization
generally supports the transit
legislation.
Washington I. Cleveland, sec
retary of the District division
of the American Automobile
Association, supported a tenn
porary transit agency with lin
tied authority.
Others who urged prompt
action to develop rail transit
Joseph c. Wheeler,
president of the Fairfax County
Federation of Citizens Associa-
tionS; c. Darwin Stolzenbach
Of the Interfederation Council,
Louis Justement of the Federal
City Council and the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects, G..
NJ. Koockogey of the Commit
tee to Keep the Street Cars
and Mrs. Edward C. Mazique
Of the Rock Greek East Neigh
Dor League.
Walter j. Bierwagen, presi-
dent of Local $50, Amalgamat-
ed Association of Street, Elec-
trio Railway and Motor Coach
(AFL-CIO), proposed
provisions to protect the rights
Of transit workers in any future
transit plan. j. c. Turner,
president of the Greater Wash
lngton Central Labor Council,
supported the Beirwagen sug-
gestions.