Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-10

dSelCleS, MT. OCOlZenDacn SdlQ.
The opposition to freeways
within urban areas is occurring
across the Nation, and is in
dependent of the issue of rapid
transit, Mr.. Stolzenbach said.
He apparently was trying to dis
engage his agency from the
Washington area controversy
over freeway construction by
explaining that opposition
would exist to freeways regard
less of any transit proposals.
Mr.. Harsha commented that
President Kennedy could not
have had the time to make an
extensive review Of the criti-
cisms made by agencies Of the
transportation agency's recon-
mendations.
Mr.. Whitener, chairman of
the subcommittee, replied that
"the buck stops at the White
House"
In other testimony before the
subcommittee, officials said
that construction for a down.
town subway could start
shortly after next April"
Subway Tunnel
Warren d. Quenstedt, dep
uty a d ministrator of the
agency, said the first con-
struction now scheduled is for
a subway tunnel from Ninth
and g streets NV. westerly
and northerly to the vicinity
Of Seventeenth and K streets"
Construction Of the 9S-mile
rail transit system proposed
for the Washington area would
provide up to 5000 jobs over
the next 10 years, Mr.. Quen-
stedt said.
Edwin H. Seeger. general
counsel of the agency, told the
subcommittee the transit sys-
tenn "can pay for ITSELF"
A special market study made
for the agency shows that "the
potential market for rapid
transit is between sc and 80
per cent Of those employed in
downtown Washington, a far
larger percentage than the
agency had estimated Mr..
Seeger said.
Eve are proposing to COM
bine the zone-fare approach
of the commuter railroads
with the low cost Of rapid
transit operations" he said.
Estimates so Per Cent
The agency is estimating that
only so per cent of rush hour
passengers bound downtown
will use its system, despite fig
ures from Boston. New York.
IChicago and Philadelphia,
which indicate 10 to 80 per
cent of peak-hour commuters
use rapid transit. Mr.. Seeger
said.
Representative Broyhill, Re-
publican of Virginia, said the
transportation agency had
placed its program in jeop-
ardy" by not settling its diff
ferences with other agencies
before coming before the sub
committee.
This committee is reluctant
to sit in judgment over these
differences between experts"
Mr.. Broyhill said. He stressed
that he personally was in ia
vor of rapid transit. and felt
that the local communities
should contribute to construc-
ton costs as recommended by
the agency.
Urged to Appear
Meanwhile, National Capital
Transportation Agency officials
we're asked to appear before an
other House subcommittee to
explain their side of the Wash
ington area transportation dis
pute.
Representative Schwengel,
Republican of Iowa, said that
some very serious charges"
have been made about the
transportation agency by wit
nesses before the Roads Sub
committee.
Mr.. Schwengel made a sur
prise appearance before the
subcommittee Of the House
District Committee yesterday.
There are some real doubts"
about the validity Of the trans
portation agency's forecasts,
and about the adequacy of the
agency's recommended high
way system, according to the
witnesses who have testified
before the roads subcommittee,
Mr.. Schwengel said.
Transportation agency Of
ficials have been asked TO testi-
fy before the Roads Subcom-
mittee. but so far have not an
swered their invitation, Mr..
Schwengel said.
Hearing on Legislation
The Roads Subcommittee is
holding hearings about legisla-
ton passed in 1862, requiring a
comprehensive, co operative
transportation planning proc
ess in metropolitan areas. Some
Of the witnesses appearing be-
fore the Roads Subcommittee
have said the transportation
agency is an example Of how
transit and highway planning
can go astray.
The Whitener hearings are
on legislation proposed by
President Kennedy when he in
dorsed the concept Of q 98-mile
rail transit system for the