Pine Bluff, Arkansas - The Pine Bluff Arsenal, located about 40 miles from Little Rock, and 8 miles northwest of Pine Bluff, is an active military installation, which stores 12.5% of the nation’s obsolete chemical weapons. Pine Bluff Chemical Activity conducts the current operations to destroy the part of the US chemical weapon stockpile held at the arsenal.
The vanpool program was launched in late August 2009 and eight groups initially signed up immediately. Most of these groups have long commutes, averaging 80 miles round trip. The momentum for the program continues with great support from Amber Lecy, Debra Eifling, the Commanding office and the current participants.
“I look forward to helping more employees here to reduce their commuting costs,” said VPSI’s Alice Lee-Cook. “A vanpool program offers many great benefits. Here’s a few comments from happy Pine Bluff vanpoolers”:
“Our vanpool should be classified as one of the great wonders of the world. It is hard to explain the impact that this vanpool is having on our daily commute. Everyone in the van finds themselves looking forward to going to work. We are not as tired as we were when we drove each day and the time spent on the van gives us a chance to talk and discuss all kind of subject matter. The only question we have is why did it take so long for us to get this program started?”
- Walter Donald Jr.
“I wanted to let you know that vanpooling is such a great thing for me! My husband and I had a conversation regarding the amount of money we would be saving and it prompted this thought: We now have ten vanpools here at the Arsenal. If there are an average of five riders per vanpool and each of those riders were averaging $40 per week in gasoline before (that is a lower amount than I was spending) that is around $8,000 a month we AREN’T paying the oil companies and that makes me VERY happy!
- Cynthia L. Hahn
Pueblo, Colorado - The US Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) is one of six Army installations in the United States that currently stores chemical weapons. PCD stores a stockpile of chemical weapons comprising seven percent of the nation’s original chemical materiel stockpile.
Commuting about 110 miles round trip, Bob Bills and fellow riders used to carpool from Colorado Springs to Pueblo daily. When they learned about VPSI’s Vanpool Program, they were ready to jump aboard, especially since they were eligible for the Federal Mass Transit Benefit. The group started in January 2010 by paying an out of pocket cost, while waiting for their vouchers to arrive in February. “We were so ready, especially with some of us with older cars…especially in this winter season in Colorado,” explained Bills. “We have a group of eight riders now so it’s a free ride to work with the Transit benefit! VPSI was quick to get us started.”
From left to right: Bob Bills, VPSI’s Angelina Flores and Wally Casio
Tags: Alice Lee-Cook, Amber Lecy, Arkansas, Bob Bills, Colorado, Cynthia L. Hahn, Debra Eifling, Federal Mass Transit, Little Rock, PCD, Pine Bluff Arsenal, Pueblo Chemical Depot, Walter Donald Jr.
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I am transferring at the end of the June 2010 from Houston to PCD and I am researching locations to live. One of my considerations in CS and found that this VanPool is currently in operation. I would like to know more about the location of origin (pickup) CS and drop off at PCD? Also, any suggestions on area’s I should look for housing to be considered for this VP. You information and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.