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Mass transit made big moves in FY12
Posted 9/27/2012 Updated 9/27/2012
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by Jenny Gordon
Robins Public Affairs
9/27/2012 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Mass transit options at Robins continued to make strides in fiscal 2012 with BiRD, or Buses into Robins Daily, and vanpool and carpool programs continuing to grow.
Although BiRD ridership numbers dipped a bit during the summer months due to vacations, lower gas prices and personnel changes, the program has maintained a positive and steady growth since it began in November 2010.
The service is offered by the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority. It had 214 riders in its first month. BiRD averaged about 905 riders a month over the summer, that number is expected to further pick up this fall.
Carpool and vanpool ridership numbers have also experienced a steady increase since 2010. Since more than 60 percent of Robins' military and civilian employees live in Houston County, a feasibility study was also recently conducted to determine additional mass transit options into the base. The Warner Robins Area Transportation Study, had 385 respondents.
A few interesting statistics gathered from the survey include: A total of 84 percent were in favor of transit service, with 79 percent of those willing to use tax dollars to pay for it. Also, 52 percent would use transportation services for work, 37 percent would use it for shopping; and 37 percent would use it for personal appointments.
Editor's note: The BiRD Park and Ride area has been relocated from the downtown Macon Marriott Centreplex to the Hutchings Career Center on Riverside Drive.
The move eliminates the inconvenience and confusion for drivers and riders as the pickup and drop off location often had to be relocated due to events at the Centreplex.
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