Minutes 03/09/1943 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 9th, 195~. d~tion aftra committee for ~the re-routing of the bus system in Portsmouth. At the same time, Mr. RoSS, Manager of the Virginia Electric & Power Co~oany read for the information of the Council his tentative plan for the operation of bus service in P~tsmouth, this being in compliance With instructions from the O.D.T. and for the purpose of ascertaining just what could~ done if a reduction in the service was required. It seems that the newspapers connected the two e~d many of citizens were under the impression that some of our Bus lines and political loops ~ere to be discontin- ued immediately. This caused a lot of undue criticism, especially in Monroe Ward through ~m. ieh the Sixth Ave. bus operates. The Sixth Ave. bus line being one of the lines mentioned in Mr. Ross~s report to be eliminated. I am glad that it did because it has brought to the sur- face the fact that this line is operated in t he very heart of the City of Portsmouth, and is serving an area composed of 90~ Defense workers. In the Cit~ Manager's office, y~ will find copies of Mr. Ross's tentative clans, w~ch I believe to be one of the most unjust and unfair propositions I have - ~ routes are made are at least ten years old, an~ ever heard tell of. The maps uoon which the ~' ~ of course does not show the de~eloped areas through which-they run~ For example, take Shea's Terrace - it does noZ show the Naupin track development~ ~-eorge McLean's develooment (Edgewater Terrace) or Mrs. Lovey West's development (Westdale) upon which are built hundr~eds of permanent houss~. According to the maps submitted by Mr. Ross, the C.D.T. would wonder w~ a bus line was being operated in a corn field and would readily agree with him that this line should be eliminated. I am of flue opinion that Portsmouth lacks a whole lot of having a bus system 1OO% in efficiency, and instead of anticipating a reduction in service, every ef - fort should be made to obtain more and better service. To deprive Portsmouth of the proper bus service wouldb e the nexZ thing to s~ootage. I say this without fear of personal consequences. ~Let the consequences be what they will, I am careless, no man can suffer too much, no man can fall too soon, if he suffer or if he fallin the defense of the liberties and Constitution of his country° Mr. Ross stated that his bus lineswere now running lO,COO miles a day in Portsmouth and vicinity, and if requested by the O.D.T. to reduce the service lO~, it ~uld be necessary for him to eliminate the 6th Ave. bus line and ali political loops, in other wards, which would mean a reduction of 1COO'miles. 20~ would, mean the elimination of other lines, a reduction o f 2000 miles and a reduction of 30~ would mean ever~Oody would have ~o walk from Chestnut St. to the ferry. As an stternative for the plans submitted by Mr. Pmss, I would like to submit the following: That in the event that an emergency should arise which would re - quire the City of PorZsmouth to curtail its bus service, that all bus lines now maintaining a fifteen minute schedule or four buses an hour be put on a twenty minute schedule or three buses an t~our. This would mean a 25~ reduction - a reduction of 2500 miles a day, and all bus lines would remain. Uno wouldn't rather wait five minutes than to spend ten minutes walk- ing ten blocks? I believe the City council should take immediate steps, and that the O.D.T. should be informed of the true conditions that now exist in Portsmouth.~ l~otion of Er. Warren to appoint a committee of three to go to ington to protest to the O.D.T. against the curtailment of buses and bus rouZes in Portsmouth, was adopted. tee. hold-ups in the City. hs.d special instructions The .Chair appointed Messrs. Wilson, Howard and ~arren on said commit Er. Fox asked the Manager whaz was being done to stop the numerous The Manager stated that several arrests had been made and that the Police to look out for hold-up men. On motion of Mr. Hutchins, ~ne Ccuncil went into an executive sessio.~ Motion of Er. Hutehins that the cancellation o f the several garbage removal contracts in Norfolk County be referred to the City Manager, was adopted. On motion adjourned. City Clerk. ~resident.