Employees, base leadership work together to install crosswalk Published Sept. 5, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78 ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, GA -- At one time, people working in Bldgs. 300, 226, and 225 near the intersection of Byron Street and Watson Boulevard Annex had to dodge traffic to get to work. Lisa Bell, an inventory management specialist in the 642nd Combat Sustainment Squadron's 3rd Party Logistics Team, had concerns over crossing to Bldg. 300 safely since Robins main gate traffic flows through the area. "Once Robins changed the route for the main gate and they made it come straight through, it became very busy," she said. "We had previously parked over there, but we came through the parking lot. Now that it's the main drag and it's very busy, walking back and forth across it, we were taking our lives into our hands." Mrs. Bell and others who use overflow parking in the area didn't know where to turn for a solution to their problem until they discovered the Voluntary Protection Program. Now, thanks to the coordination among the 542nd Combat Sustainment Wing's Employee Involvement Board, the VPP Core Team, and base leadership, a crosswalk was installed at the beginning of August to give people a safer way to get to work. Lew Jarrell, the 542nd CSW VPP Core Team lead, said the project was a great example of how team work produces positive results. "The whole thing was a good joint effort between the 542nd CSW, the 642nd Combat Sustainment Group, the 78th Air Base Wing, and the Executive Council," he said. Mr. Jarrell said the crosswalk was a solution that worked for everyone. "The pedestrian crossing is controlled by the light so that it doesn't impede traffic," he said. "It gives employees what they were looking for - a safe way to get back and forth to work, which is ultimately what the Voluntary Protection Program is all about." Brenda Romine, formerly the 542nd CSW director, said the crosswalk's installation was a "direct result of our commitment to the Voluntary Protection Program and the safety of all who use the overflow parking." "Several organizations had been concerned for some time for the safety of their employees who cross here," she said. "The employees themselves expressed concern. The correction of the safety problem is a direct reflection of our VPP tenets at work. By working through the process of hazard identification and working as a team, we've implemented a solution to help mitigate the safety hazard and made this crossing safer for all." Col. Keesey Miller, 642nd CBSG commander, agreed. "The crosswalk was clearly a critical safety issue, and taking this step to reduce the risk of a pedestrian accident is a great win for our people and for the air logistics center," he said. "A dedicated and persistent team from across the ALC worked together to make this happen." Editor's Note: Lisa Mathews, an action officer in the WR-ALC/XPT, contributed to this article.