Base to explore alternate transportation options

  • Published
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Just a peek at the gas station sign tells the story -- it is the sign of the times ... gas prices continue to rise and your commute suddenly went from $40 a week to $100.

To provide insight and discuss transportation options, the 96th Air Base Wing will host a Town Hall Meeting Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Eglin Officers' Club in the Sand Dollar Lounge at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. According to Mr. Robin Bailey, 96 ABW Director of Staff, the purpose of the meeting is to "provide information and gauge interest from Eglin personnel to see if a consolidated transportation program at Eglin would work."

Okaloosa County Transportation and RideOn program representatives will be in attendance to provide answers to questions on transportation options. Surveys will also be available at the meeting, as well as distributed to all Team Eglin personnel, added Mr. Bailey.

The meetings are open to a broad-based population interested in alternative forms of transportation. Although in the early stages, the program would initially focus on consolidated transportation from Crestview to Eglin, but if enough interest is shown, the program could be expanded to other areas around the Emerald Coast community. 

Buses or vans would depart Crestview from designated locations three times in the morning and drop personnel off at designated stops across the base. In the evening, personnel would be picked up at the same locations and taken back to the designated drop off point.

The best part of the program, according to Mr. Bailey, is Executive Order 13150 allows commuters who use public transportation to receive a monthly transportation voucher of $115 to cover costs. The transportation voucher program has proven successful in other metro areas, added Mr. Bailey.

If unable to make the meeting, an information booth will also be located at the Eglin Base Exchange Food Court from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Any questions concerning the program can be directed to Ms. Beth Anne Woods at 882-2002.