Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-09
Whitener Fears
Loss of Homes
In Transit Plans
BY LEE FLOR
Star staff Writer

first blows.
He questioned recommended
tons by the National Capital
Transportation Agency for
postponement of two interstate
freeway projects pending ex-
Of a third. The
agency has said an efficient
transit system would make the
three projects unnecessary.
IT hope people will not see
these hearings as a battle
between advocates of one sys-
TEN over another" said
Representative WhiteneE
Democrat of North Carolina.
Mr.. Whitener is chairman of
a House District subcommittee
which is holding hearings on
President Kennedy's tranSpor-
tation legislative proposals.
Mr.. Whitener also COM
mented that constituents Of his
congressional district in North
Carolina had been contacted by
Washington-baSed organiza-
tons.
MisinfOrmatiOn Charged
These constituents had been
given completely erroneous
information" about the trans
portation disputes in the WASH
ington area, Mr.. Whitener said.
The Washington-based or
CARNATIONS apparently were
highway-oriented groups.
Mr.. Broyhill said that the
congressional hearings and
legislation passed in 1860 did
not authorize a completely new
transportation study with ma
jor re-examination Of the free
way SySJeL1.
There are many people who
feel we need every highway in
the pipeline now" Mr.. Broy-
hill said.
He said his questioning in
the hearings would be directed
at three major areas: Should
the highway projects be elimi-
mated as recommended; would
enough passengers be diverted
from use of automobiles to pay
for the transit system, and
could existing rail and bus
systems be used to a greater
extent?
Housing Stressed
Mr.. Whitener stated that
while it would be nice" to
have a convenient highway
system, the issue of housing for
persons displaced by projects
was much more important.
Testimony of transportation
agency officials at the hear
ings showed a clear desire to
avoid the issue of their recon-
mendationS on highways.
The agency's basic proposal
is for a 19-mile downtown sub
way, with 70 miles Of sur
face rail lines branching out
throughout the Washington
area.
The entire 98-mile rail sys-
tenn is estimated to cost be-
tween $793 million and $957
million. Only $3.50 million in
Federal and local grants win
be needed, with the remainder
to come from fares from pas
sengers.
Plan Seen SeIf-SuppOrting
C. Darwin Stolzenbach, adj
ministrator Of the agency, told
the subcommittee that Presi-
dent Kennedy had ordered his
highway recommendations to
be considered by other agen-
cies.
"The bills presently before
this committee do not concern
these recommendations" Mr..
Stolzenbach said.
1T is abundantly clear =.
that the transit development
program before you today will
be largely self-supporting, and,
over a period Of some IS years
will repay all borrowing for
capital requirements" Mr..
Stolzenbach said.
The Washington area has
much higher transit fares to-
day than larger cities such as
New York. which has a very
low fare structure, Mr.. Stolen
bach said.
A study by one of the Ma
tons leading market research
firms disclosed that commut-
ers in Washington ARE over
whelmingly in favor of having
a rail rapid transit system in
this area" Mr.. Stolzenbach
said.
Sought Unified Plan
Another sensitive subject
mentioned by Mr.. Stolzenbach
concerned charges that his
agency had not co-operated in
planning with other agencies.
"Our legislation required us
TO consult with a wide variety
Of other agencies and govern
mental bodies, and we did So"
he declared.
Thomas L. Farmer, chairman
Of the advisory board Of the
transportation agency, told the
subcommittee that the agency
had not exceeded its congress
sional mandate on transporta-
ton planning.
Much time was spent by
the agency officials in liaison
with these bodies (other plan
ming and highway development
agencies) and their wishes were
considered in the development"
OF the rail transit proposals,
Mr. Farmer said