Before the current NSAB shuttle system, shuttles would take long drawn out routes around the base.
“Ten years ago, there were only two shuttles onboard and they would take long routes that took an hour or more to go; it wasn’t very customer friendly,” said Ryan Emery, NSAB transportation officer. “The shuttle bus onboard is really geared for and paid for to move patients around the base.”
The mission of the shuttle system is to get patients to their appointments, but staff members may ride as well.
“The buses will have a color on the side of it to let riders know what route they are on,” said Emery.
Despite its relatively small footprint, NSAB is packed with more than 40 entities spread across 240 acres.
“If you think about the size of the campus, and the need to move people from point A to point B, it helps to move those that have mobility and access issues in an efficient manner,” Emery said. “For example, if you are staying at NGIS as a guest and you need to get to the hospital because you’re here for treatment, it connects the lodging that is on the other side of the installation to the hospital.”
The shuttles act as a ‘last mile’ connection and that’s why the main hubs are in the hospital. The main hubs for the hospital are Bldgs. 10 and 19 due to them being high traffic areas in the hospital.
NSAB plans to use the existing shuttle system when the Medical Center Outpatient Annex is completed.
“The contract allows for modification and additional stops along the routes,” Emery said. “That will help with some of the concerns that people have moving them to this new building that is not connected to the hospital but still does provide medical care.”
The system is comprised of multiple lines running routes that cater to most of the installation.
“There are several lines to move patients, but there are availabilities for staff members to ride on the shuttle,” said Emery. “The most popular route starts at the Metro and goes to Bldg. 10 and it’s designed for patients who are using the Metro to get to the hospital for treatment.”
The shuttle to the Medical Center Metro runs from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Red and the Green lines operate during the morning and afternoon rush hours, from 5 a.m. until 9 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Blue line has the most stops and goes all over the base.
“The Blue line is designed to touch all of the service oriented locations — like the Fisher House, Navy Lodge and Navy Gateway Inns and Suites — and connect them to the hospital,” Emery said. “The Blue line runs from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. because the majority of that time [is] when the patients and the staff are here.”
According to Emery the stops are primarily in areas with high pedestrian traffic like Bldgs. 17 and 19.
All shuttles are handicap accessible and hold anywhere from 20 to 24 passengers.
For more information please contact Ryan Emery at ryan.d.emery3.civ@mail.mil
| Date Taken: | 01.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.11.2018 08:25 |
| Story ID: | 261838 |
| Location: | BETHESDA, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Shuttle 101: Fast Facts About NSAB Shuttle System, by PO1 William Phillips, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
