News

Base mass transit initiatives still going strong

  • Published
  • By Jenny Gordon
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Robins was recognized earlier this year by the Clean Air Campaign for its mass transit efforts.

The 78th Air Base Wing received a nod in August as a finalist at the organization's 2011 PACE Awards, conducted in downtown Atlanta.

The recognition was given in the Government Champions Initiative - Public Sector Employers category.

The award highlights public sector employers that have developed innovative approaches to reducing traffic and improving air quality, while enhancing operations that foster increased use of alternatives to driving alone.

The PACE Awards recognize some of the best commute option programs in Georgia dealing with cleaner air and less traffic.

At Robins, the BiRD, or Buses into Robins Daily, program has received positive reviews since it began in November of 2010.

Nancy Moody, a human resources specialist with the Directorate of Personnel, has been riding BiRD from the Macon Centreplex since the beginning.

"I was tired of putting miles on my car because it's paid for," said Moody, who rides four to five days each week. "I wanted it to last as long as possible."

Moody, who has made friends with other riders during her 45-minute commute, described the ride as relaxing. She catches the 8 a.m. bus from downtown Macon, and rides back home from Robins each day about 5:30 p.m. During the ride to and from work, she is able to sit back, relax or even read a book, while not worrying about high gas prices.

Reimbursement incentives were also key. She offered the BiRD alternative to anyone who may be one step away from seeing what it's like.

"The clientele are people from the base; it's not your typical bus," she pointed out.

Partnering with the Macon Transit Authority, three buses commute five days a week from the downtown Macon Centreplex, making a total of 12 stops along a route across base.

There are five designated off-base stops as well.

Riders pay $3 for a one-way trip, and $6 round trip. They are encouraged to enroll in the Transportation Incentive Program and can receive fare reimbursement in the form of a voucher from the Department of Transportation. To date, there are 635 applicants in TIP.

Ridership numbers saw a positive growth during several months after tracking data first began. In December 2010, there were 214 BiRD riders, increasing to 444 in March, and 869 riders in May. In the last year, June included a record number of 939 riders.

Since more than 62 percent of Robins' military and civilian employees live within Houston County, the emphasis in the future will be on creating programs where more of those residents can catch a ride to work.

"If we can capture mass transit to come from the south or west, then it will be even more successful," said John Pugh, 78th Mission Support Group deputy director, who is a carpool rider. "The beautiful thing about mass transit is that you don't have to ride it every day."

Changing the culture and the idea of riding a bus to work also needs to be continuously addressed.

"Once people try it, they will see that it does work and can meet their schedule," he said. "It is something that we need to take seriously."

Another successful initiative has been the vanpool program, which has been ongoing for years.

There are currently 19 companies participating, including a mix of 55 private and public commuter vans that transport workers from across Middle Georgia. A vanpool can include six to 12 people.

Designated carpool parking spaces were created this past August. To help reduce parking and congestion, more than 20 spaces were identified near buildings 300 and 301, and buildings 54, 220 and 125 near the flightline. More potential parking spaces will be addressed as needed. Permits are available for carpools, defined as three or more people.

The benefits of mass transportation not only include a significant savings in vehicle fuel, and wear and tear, but also reduce driving stress, congestion at base entrances, vehicle emission on base, and congestion in parking areas.

For every one mile driven, one pound of pollution is emitted. To learn more about mass transportation at Robins, visit www.robins.af.mil, and click on the transportation link from the home page.

Partnering with the Clean Air Campaign, you can also log into www.logyourcommute.org to find workplace carpooling partners, and win prizes from the Commuter Awards program by logging in commuter mileage saved by carpooling.