News

BiRD shuttle adds two stops

  • Published
  • By Jenny Gordon
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Two new stops have been added to the Robins BiRD program, or Buses into Robins Daily. The new pick-up and drop-off locations are in front of Building 376 on Byron Street, and at the Visitor Control Center for those working near or in buildings 640 and 645, that brings the total number of on-base stops to 12.

There are 16 bus runs into Robins, eight each during the morning and afternoon. Off-base stops for BiRD in Macon include the downtown Macon Marriott Centreplex, Cherry Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Broadway at Ga. 247, and Timco at Ga. 247. Also, in Warner Robins there is a stop at Elberta Road and Ga. 247.

It costs just $6 roundtrip to ride BiRD from Macon to Warner Robins. If enrolled in the Transportation Incentive Program, your cost can be reimbursed.

According to Heidi Schwingle, 78th Civil Engineer Group air quality program manager, ridership numbers have continuously improved since last December, when tracking data first began. BiRD began in November 2010 to address the ongoing issue of parking and congestion across the installation, while also looking at ways to improve air quality.

In December 2010, there were 214 BiRD riders, gradually increasing to 444 in March, and then up to 869 riders in May. In July, there were 813 riders participating in the shuttle service, which runs Mondays through Fridays.

Working with the Macon Transit Authority, BiRD continues to be a way for employees to save money on gas, insurance and personal vehicle maintenance, while also reducing parking congestion, traffic and delays getting to work.

As a reminder, riders are urged to use the designated BiRD stops for pick-up and drop-off needs, which allow bus drivers to stay on schedule.

But, BiRD is just one option Team Robins has in its mass transit initiative, which also includes carpool and vanpool opportunities.

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