University of Virginia Library

Mizell Calls For Government Aid
To Halt Impending Transit Crisis

By LYNN STERN

In light of announcements
in 1972 that bus companies in
four Virginia cities would cease
operations, University Institute
of Government research asst.
John Mizell Jr. has published
"The Public Transit Crisis in
Virginia" in Virginia Town and
City's April issue.

"Simply building more
highways is not the solution to
the transportation problems"
in Virginia, he insists.

Instead, "considerably more
resources must be devoted to
mass transit in accommodating
large numbers of people in
heavily populated areas," he
says.

Public Crisis

Mr. Mizell maintains that
any hope of ultimately
overcoming the crisis in public
transportation rests in the
state's willingness to finance
transit systems in urban
centers.

"In each of the state's
major metropolitan areas, the
transit crisis is remarkably
similar," he says. "City
officials are faced with three
basic alternatives: (1) pay
exorbitant subsidies to private
bus companies to postpone a
crisis temporarily; (2) have the
city take over the operations;
or (3) allow public
transportation in the city to
cease operating completely."

Mr. Mizell states that the
third alternative is impractical,
but each of the other choices
calls for financial resources
which are currently not
available.

Purchase Transit

Richmond obtained
approval from the 1973
General Assembly to purchase
and operate its transit system.
Having obtained a federal
grant, it hopes for a larger one
from UMTA.

"In late 1971," Mr. Mizell
notes, "the Virginia
Metropolitan Areas
Transportation Study
Commission released a
comprehensive report." The
1972 General Assembly
implemented some of these
proposals, including a full
refund of the state motor fuel
taxes paid by bus lines.

Financial Difficulties

The Assembly failed,
however, to enact measures
which would have alleviated
the financial difficulties of
transit systems and killed
several mass transit bills.