FORT GORDON, Ga. (Nov. 7, 2014) - The Number 10 Fort Gordon Bus rolled out of the Augusta Mall parking lot Monday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A bus filled with Augusta Georgia Planning Commissioners, representatives of the Augusta Public Transit, local media representatives, and key personnel from Fort Gordon and the City of Augusta loaded the bus for a trial run from the Augusta Mall to Fort Gordon and back.
"What a show of great community spirit," said Ron Price, the installation Logistics Readiness Center chief of transportation. "The City of Augusta and Fort Gordon came together to start the wheels rolling on an Augusta and Fort Gordon route that will benefit all. This route will provide transportation to the Augusta and Fort Gordon communities."
One of the bus riders, Andy Wilke, the Augusta Mall general manager, said, "This is something we are really excited about."
" I think this sends a strong statement of support that the Augusta community has for all of our service members and their families at Fort Gordon," he said. "The mall management and staff are very excited to be part of this opportunity."
David Jones, another rider, who has worked for the city of Augusta for 30 years, expressed his satisfaction with the bus route.
"I love it," Jones said. "We have been working on this (bus service to Fort Gordon) for years. It's going to be a great success."
" I think this is an excellent opportunity," said Augusta Georgia Planning Commissioner Alvin Mason. "It's something I have been working on for several years with the Garrison Command, and our transportation folks out of Fort Gordon. I wanted to see it come true, not only for our Soldiers, but for the civilians that work on the post. And for those (military) retirees that need to come on Fort Gordon to use the medical facilities, PXtra or the commissary."
" This adds another mode of transportation," he added. "I also like the idea that this would be another stepping stone to build better relationships between the fort and the city," Mason said.
" I just want to say how grateful we are for the efforts of the city and the Augusta Public Transit for establishing this trial run for service members and their families at Fort Gordon," said Col. Samuel G. Anderson, the Fort Gordon garrison commander, just before cutting the ceremonial red ribbon of the new bus at the Augusta Mall.
"This is another example of this community's outreach to the military. I have said on several occasions. I've been in the Army 24 years and this is by far, the most friendly installation-community relations with the military that I have witnessed. It is obviously a true partnership and this is another great example."
"We are hoping this new (bus) service will create a greater interaction with the community of our service members and their families," Anderson said. "And also increase the opportunities of individuals in Augusta to travel to Fort Gordon. We recognize this represents a pretty significant investment by the city (of Augusta). We will do our part at Fort Gordon to promote this effort. We recognize that this is a trial run. We are going to do it for about six months and I give my word I will do my part to ensure that it is promoted on the installation."
The #10 bus will cost riders $1.25 for one way fare and 50 cents for a transfer. Monthly passes will cost $50 and weekly passes $15.
There are discounted fares available for the elderly, age 65 and over; students and disabled patrons. However, individuals must show proper identification to receive a discounted fare.
Busses will run from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and then again from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday service will be from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
They will originate and return to the Walmart store on Wrightsboro Road until 9:30 a.m. each day, and then shift to the Augusta Mall at Wrightsboro Road for the start and finish of the route.
The route will run from Walmart and the mall to Wrightsboro Road to the Bobby Jones Expressway, to Gordon Highway, and then to the Fort Gordon McKenna Gate 1 via Jimmy Dyess Parkway.
On post, it will stop at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, make a loop around Barton Field, and terminate at the Fort Gordon Bus Station near the Commissary and PXtra.
From the bus stop at the mall, riders can transfer to buses heading elsewhere in the local area.
Each bus will hold be tween 25 and 35 passengers, but only passengers with a valid Defense Department ID card or other approved Fort Gordon access pass will be allowed to enter the installation.
Each bus will be boarded by the Department of the Army security guards on arrival for a security check.
Passengers who don't have identification authorizing them access to Fort Gordon will exit the bus and wait at McKenna Gate 1 until the bus returns from its on-post loop.
Some of the bus stops on For t Gordon are covered to protect individuals from inclement weather while waiting for the bus. Others will be marked by signs only.
"Once the six-month trial period is over and we have fine-tuned the stops, then we will address the shelter issue," Price explained.
"The important thing to remember is that this is a six-month or 180-day evaluation period," Price explained. " The bus service must be used or we are will lose the service. It's important that service members, families, our workforce and our retirees use the bus service."
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