By Erin O. Stattel, Army War College Public Affairs

Dec. 4, 2009 -- The commute to and from Carlisle Barracks has become a fun time that is environmentally friendly thanks to a van pool run through an Army-sponsored transportation program.

The Mass Transportation Benefit Program, a Department of the Army-sponsored program, is run by vanpool company VPSI, Inc. of Richmond, VA., and provides Carlisle Barracks with two vans for pickup and drop-off services for employees who live as far as Shippensburg.

While workers appreciate the cost savings, they are also mindful of their contribution to reducing Carlisle Barracks’ carbon footprint, or bootprint, in the Army’s case.

“This is the best thing we could have done for the environment,” said Ed Wenger, head carpenter for commercial buildings and van pool participant.

“It certainly cuts down on my fuel budget, and the camaraderie between all of us is great,” said John Bonitz, of the Transportation Office, as he prepared on Thursday afternoon to leave post for the day. “This is really a very efficient “green” way to get to and from work.”

“The Carlisle Barracks vanpool program [reduces] more than 14 tons of CO2 emissions and [eliminates] nearly 900 commute trips from the roads,” said Jesse Kafka, business development executive for VPSI, Inc. “Since the inception of the program last December, total CO2 emissions have been reduced by 158 tons, and 9,521 commute trips have been eliminated from the roads.”

Carlisle Barracks’ first van pool was started one year ago on December 3, said Donna Horton, management analyst for the Directorate of Resource Management.

The initiative takes approximately 20 cars off the highway on a daily basis as well as frees up an equal number of parking spaces across the installation, said Lynn Snyder, director of Resource Management.

“Not only is this initiative saving those employees money, but it is also providing a green initiative for the post and reducing the traffic on the local highways, a driving factor behind the MTBP,” Snyder said. “Due to the program’s success, a second van pool was initiated and started March 1.”

“We currently have two full vans with 27 employees, nine from Chambersburg and 18 from Shippensburg, [who] commute daily on the van pools,” Horton explained. “Currently, we have two employees who are on the stand-by list.”

Another van could be added to the fleet in response to additional riders expressing interest. People wishing to participate in the Carlisle Barracks van pool should contact Donna Horton in the Resource Management Office at donna.horton@us.army.mil.