Evening star., 1963-05-05

COnLlnueO FEOm 4 dBC M
.ects which the agency has OPP
posed.
Gordon Gray, the former As
sistant Secretary Of Defense
who is president Of the coun-
Gil, said that If the admins
tration measure was at dead
center, the councils report
might get it moving again.
The council recommended
building a new bridge near the
Three Sisters Island site, q
freeway on the west bank Of
the Anacostia River, and
modified freeway along the
northwest boundary Of the
downtown area.
Congress has o special re-
sponsibility for the Nations
Capital, and must accept a
special obligation" for the
transit systems financing, the
report said. The question OF
whether the system can be self
supporting should not be the
"sole consideration" by Con-
gress, It pointed out.
Delayed by White House
The transportation decision
has been delayed at the White
sHouse for several weeks. with
out any official reasons being
given.
The transportation agency
last fall talked about early de-
cisions by Congress. 1t pre-
dicted a Presidential message
on transit soon after Congress
started.
Then In January the White
House asked the agency to
solicit comments from the
hodge-podge Of governments
and agencies in the Washing
ton area. The agency set a
January 26 deadline for the
informal comments, and Bu-
reau of the Budget officials
talked about sending a Presi-
Dental message to Congress
by March /.
President Kennedy, in his
Congressional message on the
District budget on January lS'
promised that transportation
decisions will be made soon" :"
But to date it has not been
released.
SpIit on Kennedy's Staff
The local legislation for the
TRANSFORMATION agency report
edly will be very simple, and
will not involve the controver-
sial financing proposals.
Some administration officials
have said there is a basic split
among policy makers on Presi-
! dent Kennedy's staff. and that
a Presidential decision has not
been made.
The Maryland and Virginia
suburbs have not satisfied these
officials that they will support
a transit system with local
grants. Proposals for a $73l
million bond guarantee also
have been questioned recently
by Treasury Department off,
cials, 1t was reported.
The Federal City Council re-
! port, based on a l2-month
study by a special transporta-
ton committee. said the entire
rail transit system docs not
obviate the need" for major
: highways.
proposals Of the Mass
TRANSPORTATION Survey Report
OF 1853 are an acceptable guide
f. for planning an effective roads
system" the council reported.
Relaxation Of Standards
Miles L. Colean. q consulting
: economist who was chairman
OF the committee that prepared
the report. said a key recon-
+, mediation calls for relaxation
OF interstate standards for the
North Leg freeway. Standards
used for interstate highways
between cities should not be
used within cities. and over
powering, massive interchanges
should be avoided. Mr.. Colcan
said.
The District is a federal en-
clave. has no taxing or financ-
ing power OF It's own, and has
10 depend on federal assistance
in financing q transit system,
Mr.. Colean said.
The National Capital Trans
portation Agency should be
complimented" for taking an
approach that will provide the
maximum self-financing from
passenger fares. he added.
Agency officials repeatedly