New bus route to cut down on cars, pollution Published May 17, 2007 By Corey Dahl 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- Norbert Lopez never has to scrape his icy windshield on winter mornings. He couldn't care less about rising gas prices. And, whenever traffic is heavy, he just sits back and relaxes with a book. His secret? Public transportation. For the last 22 years, Mr. Lopez has taken the city bus from his home near the Citadel Mall to his office here at the 21st Logistics Readiness Squadron. He says the move saves him money, allows him to get in a little extra exercise and, most importantly, helps him stay calm. "The best part is not having to drive," he said. "Knowing I can read a book or listen to music, just relax. When I get to work, I'm not all tensed up, worrying about almost getting side-swiped or something." Base officials are hoping to find more people like Mr. Lopez in the coming months. On June 4, Peterson and Mountain Metro Transit, the company in charge of Colorado Springs' bus system, will unveil a new bus route aimed at making it easier to get to, from and around base using alternative modes of transportation. The new route will enter through Peterson's West Gate, make several stops at popular spots such as Air Force Space Command headquarters and Building 350, and then continue to Pete East, where the new Base Exchange and Commissary will be located. Glenn Messke, a base development project manager with the 21st Space Wing's Civil Engineering Squadron, said planners hope the route will cut down on the number of cars commuting to the base as well as the number of people driving around base once they get here. "People will get in their cars here and drive, even when it's a 10-minute walk," he said. "Our goal is for people, once they get on base, to park their cars and leave them there the rest of the day. If they use the bus to get on base in the first place, that's even better." Currently, Peterson sees nearly 35,000 cars pass through its gates each day. As the base grows from its current personnel level of 11,000 to a projected 30,000 by 2030, that number will only grow. Messke said the West Gate alone will likely handle 22,000 cars a day in the next 10 to 15 years. All those cars can strain base resources - increasing pollution, causing rapid wear and tear to the base's roads and congesting base and city roadways, said Paul Scoggins, a 21st CES landscape architect. But increased use of the bus as well as walking and car pooling could help alleviate any growing pains. "It would cut down on our emissions, our traffic, our infrastructure, our maintenance - it's this whole big ripple effect," he said. Peterson has a ways to go before it can reap any of those benefits, though, officials say. Roughly 50 people on base are signed up for the Transportation Incentive Program, an alternative transportation initiative that doles out free bus passes to servicemembers and civilian government employees. Schriever's program has more than 100 people enrolled. "It's as simple as signing a piece of paper," Mr. Messke said. "But there are a lot of people who might not know about it." Skyrocketing gas prices and the new bus route could change that, though, said Tech. Sgt. Roger Kelley, who manages TIP for the 21st Space Wing's Logistics Readiness Squadron. "With the price of fuel right now, probably more and more people will do it," he said. "This is, essentially, a free ride." Comment on this story.