Robins adding shuttle, high occupancy gate to ease traffic

On Monday, Robins Air Force Base officials hope parking congestion on base will ease, with the addition of a high occupancy vehicle gate and a new shuttle service.

A shuttle service, called Round Robins Express, is slated to begin operation from 6-9 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. on weekdays, said Chrissy Miner, a Robins spokeswoman.

Also, a new gate has been built — Gate 12 — near North Davis Drive in Warner Robins and J-STARS Road on base. The gate is for carpools, vans and bus traffic coming from Macon Transit Authority’s “Buses Into Robins Daily” program, or BIRD.

“This is a special gate for high occupancy vehicles, which are automobiles with three or more people,” Miner said. “All the identification and security checks still apply.”

Used in conjunction with the Macon bus routes and the on-base shuttle service, it should cut down on traffic congestion and alleviate some parking overcrowding, Miner said.

The base shuttle will have four buses and two routes, except on holidays.

Riders would enter Gate 12, park or be dropped off at the Georgia Air National Guard buildings on J-STARS Road and Eagle Avenue. About 110 parking places are reserved there for high occupancy vehicles to park.

“There’s no fee to ride the shuttle on Robins,” Miner said. “The fee for the Macon route is $3 one way, but there’s no fee on base.”

To contact writer Shelby G. Spires, call 744-4494.

This story was originally published November 24, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Robins adding shuttle, high occupancy gate to ease traffic."