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May 29, 2007 For more information, contact: Richard Cavender or Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993 Rolla-FLW Commuter Service Offers Affordable Alternative To High Gas Prices ST. JAMES—With skyrocketing gas prices, the Fort Leonard Wood Commuter Service offers an affordable alternative to $3.79 per gallon gas. The service, which celebrated its one-year anniversary on May 1, is still accepting riders. The service, operated by USA Express of Rolla, provides a daily shuttle for interested workers from Rolla to Fort Leonard and back, for $110 per month for qualifying government employees or $6 per day, whichever is less. The price is actually $220 per month but the federal government will pay $110 per month directly to the carrier as part of a mass transportation benefit program. “Basically, if you are a federal employee working at Fort Leonard Wood, you can ride to work in luxury for as little as $5 per day,” said Nick Barrack, owner of USA Express. “Five or six dollars won’t even buy you two gallons of gas today,” Barrack said. “There’s no way even a couple of people can carpool for that price and that doesn’t consider the comfort and other benefits. As gas prices get even higher, it is a good time to consider using the service,” he added. The shuttle service offers a full-size 47-passenger motorcoach with reclining seats, televisions, restroom, and wi-fi internet access. Also there is storage space underneath for bicycles and other things.” Currently, the motorcoach departs from the north end of the Kroger’s parking lot in Rolla at 6 a.m. and returns at 5:10 p.m. An average of 16 persons ride daily. Barrack would like to add another bus in a different time slot. “If the current pick up and drop off schedule doesn’t fit your work schedule but you would like to use the commuter service, please contact me with your preferred time. We would like to add another bus in another time slot but we must have the riders to support it.” Barrack is also working with the Missouri University of Science and Technology on a hydrogen-fueled shuttle that will operate to and from Fort Leonard Wood in the second time slot. Both the commuter service registration form and the Department of Defense mass transportation benefit program application are available at USA Express website at www.usaxonline.com and at Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s website at www.meramecregion.org. Persons needing more information can call 1-800-296-7857 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Fort Leonard Wood Commuter Service is the result of many months of planning. A feasibility study, conducted by UMR graduate students and Missouri Transportation Institute in partnership with MRPC and Fort Leonard Wood, indicated sufficient interest to support service between Rolla or Lebanon and Fort Leonard Wood. MRPC continues to study reverse commute options in a transit program, especially the Fort Leonard Wood route, and the Missouri University of Science and Technology and Missouri Transportation Institute are investigating the possibility of hydrogen-powered vehicles. The feasibility study is being funded through a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Missouri S & T has secured a grant for hydrogen-powered buses, which will be included in the shuttle service in the near future. |