Evening star., 1961-01-07
Active Role Slated
BY Transit Agency
New Area Unit
Willlnitinte
improvements
By GILBERT GIMBLE
star star writer

The Hedging Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit
Commission has declared itself
ready to undertake an active
role in improving transit serv-'
ice in the region.
After q five-hour meeting
yesterday, the eommission's
newly elected chairman, Brig.
Gen. Frederick ]. Clarke, said
the transit regulatory agency
win seek cooperation from ex-
isting private transit COM
panies.
He said the commissions aim
win be to coordinate more ef-'
-fectively transit services
throughout the area to provide
the public with more efficient
and speedy transportation.
The meeting. the first oficial
session of the three-member
interstate commission, pro-
duced an agreement on broad
policy, Gen. Clarke. the District
Engineer Commissioner. said.
= Speaking for all three mems
bers Of the commission, Gen.
Clarke declared:
I'VE feel that our duties un-
der the interstate compact re-
quire us to take an active role
in working out improvements
in transit services throughout
the area"
To Lead Efforts
What, this primarily means,
he said, is that the commission,
unlike other utility regulatory
agencies, will not sit back and
wait" for transit operators to
step forward with proposals
but win lead In developing pro-
grams for transit improve
|nentS. -
Were going to get into this
as rapidly as possible" he
added.
The Engineer Commissioner,
in whose Office the meeting was
held yesterday. emphasized
that cooperation ( Of private
transit operators win be sought
to carry out effectively any
future proposals.
He also said the commission
expects to work closely with the
National Capital Transporta-
tion Agency, which was estab-
lisl1ed by Congress to plan and
develop a mass transportation
system for the Metropolitan
region.
Several suggestions for
transit service improvements
were discussed at yesterdays
meeting but without any def
mite conclusions. Some of these
possibilities included:
/. Extending bus routes to
serve areas not now covered by
transit lines.
2. Allowing a system Of fares
which would permit commu-
ters to board a bus Of one
transit company and then
transfer to another company's
bus line. Some system Of split
ting the fare bewteen the two
bus companies involved would
have % be worked out.
8. Establishing more con-
venient. transfer points among
the various transit lines.
Sworn in as the commissions
new executive director was Del
mar Ison, former deputy com
missioner Of Kentucky's State
regulatory agency. Mr.. Ison
will begin forming a STAFF of
about IA persons next week.
y Funds Sought
The other two members of
the interstate commission are
Judge H. Lester Hooker Of
Richmond and Albert Sklar Of
Baltimore. Mr.. Sklar was elec-
ted vice chairman Of the COM
mission.
Gen. Clarke said the three
member jurisdictions, the Dis
trict, Maryland and Virginia,
will be asked to provide $5,o00
each Immediately so that the
agency will have some funds
on hand.
An advisory committee Of
highway officials and traffic
engineers viii be named shortly
and an early meeting with this
group is expected.
The new commissions regul-
latory duties, however, do not
start until March %, which is
80 days after the formal sign
ing of the interstate compact.
The commissions second meet
ing will be held next Friday
in Gen. Clarke,S Office in the