Ride share program up and running for Benning workers

BY BORDEN BLACK - Special to the Ledger-Enquirer --

Gasoline prices hitting $3 a gallon was the impetus a group of civil servants needed to become the first Fort Benning employees to take advantage of a new ride sharing program.

Darrell Sullivan, who commutes from Harris County to Building 4, was putting $60 to $70 worth of fuel into his V8 truck weekly. As prices soared, he began to look into alternatives. Initially his idea was entrepreneurial: to charge other Fort Benning commuters for a ride into work. Sullivan soon discovered there was too much insurance and red tape involved. During his research, he discovered programs already being offered by the state and federal governments would make his ride to work free.

Peter Lukken, sustainability planner at Fort Benning, says there are two programs Fort Benning workers can take advantage of: The Georgia Clean Air Campaign and the Army's Mass Transportation Benefit Program.

Sullivan joined up with the Army voucher system for vans. No money changes hands, according to Lukken. The driver is given coupons by each rider that can be turned in to pay up to $115 a month for rental of the van and gas.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car is one company that has been working with the program and provides a month-to-month van rental with gas in return for the vouchers.

Before the Harris County vanpool started, there were several meetings, test runs and numerous e-mails to iron out the plan. Richard (Chuck) Taylor, who lives the farthest away, became the designated driver for Benning's first vanpool.

The vehicle is stored at his home and he begins the trip around 6:30 a.m. His first stop, at Interstate 185 and Georgia 315 is at 6:42. There is another pickup at the Welcome Center off the interstate at 6:50. There are two drop-off points on Benning, with the time of arrival at the final destination at 7:25. On the first morning, Feb. 4, the inconspicuous 15-passenger white van pulled into a parking space right on the dot.

In order for the ride sharing program to work, Sullivan says the passengers need to work the same hours, in his case 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is also helpful if they don't need to make trips to other locations on post during the day. They aren't stranded however if they have an emergency. Enterprise offers a guaranteed ride home program. In case of emergency, Enterprise will deliver a car to the vanpooler for 24-hour use.

Initially only nine people had signed up for the pool, but Sullivan hopes ridership will grow.

"I think this will be widespread once it gets going," says Sullivan. "It just requires someone to orchestrate it."

Although Sullivan's vanpool was not a Fort Benning initiative, just a group of associates and friends that got together, Lukken says the installation is gearing up for an all-out push to get more commuters involved. "It's like having your own private limo," he says.

In addition to saving on gas and wear and tear on their cars, the riders don't have to drive, they share camaraderie, make friends and reduce anticipated congestion as Fort Benning grows. In addition, it will cut down on air emissions, which Lukken points out is very important since Columbus is getting close to a non-attainment air-quality standard.

Another program, backed by the state Clean Air Campaign, is more like a buddy system. Lukken says interested commuters can log on to a ride share Web site and find a partner. For the first few months, the state will reimburse carpoolers and vanpoolers up to $180 a month. Lukken points out that there is a little more flexibility with this program since you can arrange so you have a car at work. Although the reimbursement is not perpetual, riding with someone else does cut down on gasoline usage and will help relieve congestion.

MORE INFO

• Fort Benning program -- www.logyourcommute.com/fortbenning/

• Clean Air Campaign -- www.cleanaircampaign.com

• Department of the Army Program -- www.asafm.army.mil/rabp/masstrans/masstrans.asp#top

• For assistance, call Peter Lukken at 706-545-1812.