Officials ready to begin bus service to Tinker Published Aug. 7, 2008 By Brandice Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- In the wake of rising gas prices, Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority officials are offering a cost-effective alternative: the Tinker Express bus. Beginning Sept. 2, a luxury bus will transport commuter personnel between Norman, Moore and Tinker, Monday through Friday. A single ticket is $50 per month for unlimited rides. The bus has a capacity to hold 44 passengers, and has handicap accessibility. "Take advantage of this bus," said Jim Wagoner, program manager for the bus project. "It's a great opportunity for Tinker folks to save money on gas and wear-and-tear on their vehicles." Research for the program began roughly two-and-a-half years ago with a survey about where Tinker personnel live and how they travel to work. Based on the results, officials began researching a possible bus system. Due to unforeseen "bumps in the road," including funding dilemmas, the project was put on hold. In March 2008, the project was re-instated. Rocky Mountain Tours, a charter-bus company based in Oklahoma City, won the contract bid. Financial support, which is subsidized by federal and state funding, was approved in June. The bus program will run for a year, so the project sponsor, the COPTA Board, can determine if the project is worthwhile. "That ticket also includes lifts for any metro bus they see downtown in Oklahoma City, Midwest City and Norman," Mr. Wagoner said. "So, it benefits whoever buys the ticket to ride the metro transit downtown too." If the initial test route is successful, future additional routes servicing other municipalities may be added, Mr. Wagoner said. In the meantime, the Tinker Express will load passengers at the Target parking lot in Norman before heading to the First Baptist Church in Moore. From Moore, the bus will go to Tinker through the truck entry gate, Gate 33. The first scheduled stop is Bldg. 3001 at approximately 6:45 a.m. Roughly 10 to 15 minutes later, the bus will arrive at Bldg. 460 and drop off its remaining passengers. The bus will exit the Eaker Gate, Gate 2. The bus will not return until the afternoon shift, when the bus returns Tinker personnel to their cars in Norman and Moore. Exact pick-up times and drop-off times, particularly for the afternoon ride, are not yet determined. Bus tickets are available at Bldg. 3001's gift shop next to the cafeteria at Area C at the South End, and at the Services Mall. For more information about the Tinker Express, call Jim Wagoner at 734-4650.