Round Robins Express to end, Gate 12 closes Published Feb. 25, 2011 By 1st Lt. Pamela Stauffer 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Following a three-month trial period, the Round Robins Express will no longer be going around Robins. The on-base shuttle service, which first started carrying workers to locations on base in November, will end on Wednesday. "This trial period has provided valuable data which will help our future transportation initiatives," said Col. Lee-Ann Perkins, 78th Mission Support Group commander. In addition, Gate 12, the HOV gate at North Davis Drive, has been closed. The Air National Guard gate, Gate 15, will now open at 5:15 a.m. Robins will continue to offer other mass transit initiatives, such as Buses into Robins Daily, the Clean Air Campaign and the Transportation Incentive Program. "These programs have shown great promise in our efforts to reduce congestion and air emissions from the high number of vehicles on base," Perkins said. "The growing success of these programs helps Team Robins remain a good community partner in efforts for cleaner air." BiRD was developed in partnership with the Macon-Bibb Transit Authority as a ticketed service running to and from Macon. It runs several buses and picks up passengers beginning at 4:45 a.m., and costs passengers $6 a day round trip, but the cost is 100-percent reimbursable for military members and civilian employees enrolled in the TIP. Those interested in the program can sign up by calling 468-7199. Beginning Monday, Robins Federal Credit Union will start selling BiRD bus passes -- both on and off base. As more than 1,000 new employees are expected to be hired in 2011, the need becomes greater for participation in the base's mass transportation initiatives. "These future growth factors influence the need to begin planning actions to address the increased traffic flow," said Otis Hicks, 78th Civil Engineer Group director. "We've partnered with county and state officials to identify conceptual opportunities which will support base accessibility from the east side." For general information on the Robins transportation initiatives, visit www.robins.af.mil/library/transportation/index.asp.