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Old 06-28-2004, 07:19 AM
thedrifter thedrifter is offline
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Cool The Green Line passes milestone

The Green Line passes milestone
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification #: 200462825042
Story by Pfc. Brandon R. Holgersen



CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan ?(June 17, 2004) -- The Green Line shuttle system has traveled more than two million miles and transported more than two million passengers to Marine Corps camps all over Okinawa with out one major accident or incident since October 2001.

?We have gone without a major accident for this amount of time because of the drivers? training and safety awareness,? said Thomas L. Ramer the operations officer for Garrison Mobile Equipment, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, which runs the shuttle service.

Drivers are required to have at least a high school diploma, a United States government heavy vehicle license, a Japanese government heavy vehicle license and a basic knowledge of the English language, according to Ramer.

Another thing that has contributed to the success of the safety on the shuttle is the driver hotline, a network of phones at GME for the drivers to receive assistance during unforeseen problems, according to Ramer.

?Every driver for TGL has a cell phone and if anything happens they can call directly back to (us) to get help,? Ramer said.

?The Green Line also has the first priority when it is in need of repairs. If a driver feels that something is not right with a bus, he will bring it back and (mechanics) will look it over to see if there is a problem,? Ramer said.

The maintenance workers will stop whatever they are doing so that they can get a bus up and running again, according to Ramer.

All TGL drivers are fully trained before they go on the road, according to Takatosh Kamimura, operations specialist with TGL.

?The first concern in the minds of the drivers is the safety of the passengers,? Kamimura said.

The Green Line was started in October 2001 to provide Marines and sailors stationed in Okinawa with a safe, reliable way to get around to different camps, on and off duty, without spending a lot of money on taxis or relying on Japanese public transit. It has succeeded in its mission, according to Ramer.

The Green Line started out with 10 buses and has now grown to a fleet of 40 buses in less than two years, according to Ramer.

The Green Line now makes 2,200 arrivals and departures from bus stops all over the island carrying up to 25,000 people a week in some cases, Ramer added.

Additionally, TGL is planning a shuttle system exclusively for new Marines to the island who are checking into or out of their unit. The shuttle will give the Marines access to transportation that would run only on certain days and would be set on a scheduled route to buildings where Marines need to check into and out of, according to Ramer.

?The drivers have really taken us to where we are. They are the people (who) drive the buses, they are our customer service representatives, they deal with the passengers on a daily basis and they effectively represent us as a whole,? Nakamura said.




CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- The Foster Inside Shuttle of The Green Line bus system travels toward the Building 1 bus stop here June 17 on its hourly route. The Green Line busses have traveled more than two million miles and carried more than two million passengers with out a major accident or incident since the bus line?s creation in October 2001. Photo by: Brandon R. Holgersen

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...4?opendocument


Ellie
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