JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - –
U.S. Service members and civilian employees at Joint Base Langley-Eustis who may be looking for ways to save money are eligible to take advantage of the Department of Defense's Mass Transportation Benefit Program, which helps to offset transportation costs to and from work.
The program is open to active-duty Service members; National Guardsmen and Reservists on active-duty orders, and DoD civilian employees. Qualifying modes of transportation include commuter bus, train, subway/light rail, ferries, and vanpools. For JBLE, this includes V-ride vanpools and Hampton Roads Transit buses.
"Those wishing to ride must first find a van or bus to ride by visiting the V-ride or Hampton Roads Transit websites and fining a van or bus that comes near their area," said Dawn Marshall, U.S. Training and Doctrine Command MTBP coordinator. "Once they find a van they can ride in, I send them the application that gets routed up to the Department of Transportation."
Once an individual's application is processed, the DoT sends Marshall a Visa debit card to issue to the individual, which is loaded with $130 each month to pay for their ride contract.
Cost for a ride is dependent on the lease for each vehicle. The mileage one way, gas, maintenance and insurance are all factors in determining the lease on the vehicle. Participants pay the vendor monthly once they receive their MTBP debit card.
"As an example, one of our vans has a monthly lease of $1,200," said Marshall. "If you have eight or nine people in the van, each person would pay between $130 and $150 monthly."
Individuals who travel further distances to their work centers, such as those traveling from Virginia Beach to Fort Eustis, will pay more based on the one-way mileage than those living in Hampton traveling to the same location. Any amount owed to the vendor after the $130 paid from the DoT must be paid by the individual.
"You have to do a cost comparison when it comes to the program," said Marshall. "Even if individuals have to pay more than the $130, it's usually less money than they would spend driving their own vehicle to work every day once they factor in gas and wear and tear on their vehicle."
According to Barry Hendricks, V-ride vanpool coordinator, saving money isn't the only advantage to the program.
"In my case, I drive about 25 miles one way to work each day so I'm saving at least a gallon of gas each way," said Hendricks. "By taking part in the program, you're helping the environment, keeping fewer vehicles on the road and making less traffic in the area."
In today's society, Service members continually look for ways to save money. With the Mass Transportation Benefit Program, Service members and civilian employees can not only save money, but help the environment and lessen traffic at the same time.
Those interested in joining the MTBP should contact their installation transportation coordinator or visit www.vride.com or
www.gohrt.com.