Rideshare program provides savings and award-winning service to FAFB, Spokane and Airway Heights

Kristin Nester, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron installation management flight chief, accepts an award during a Commute Smart Northwest Champions Awards event in Spokane, Washington, Feb. 8, 2024. Nester was selected as one of four champion business leaders for her commitment and support of Fairchild Air Force Base’s rideshare program. CSNW recognized Fairchild AFB as a platinum level employer and recognized other members of Fairchild AFB as champion commuters. The rideshare program utilizes vanpools, carpools and Spokane Transit Authority buses to help remove over 8,300 trips and 141,000 miles being driven on local roadways every year. (Courtesy photo)

Rideshare program provides savings and award-winning service to FAFB, Spokane and Airway Heights

Tyler Smith, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron deputy base civil engineer, accepts an award during a Commute Smart Northwest Champions Awards event in Spokane, Washington, Feb. 8, 2024. Smith was selected as a champion commuter for his commitment and support of Fairchild Air Force Base’s rideshare program. CSNW recognized Fairchild AFB as a platinum level employer and recognized other members of Fairchild AFB as champion commuters and leaders. The rideshare program utilizes vanpools, carpools and Spokane Transit Authority buses to help remove over 8,300 trips and 141,000 miles being driven on local roadways every year. (Courtesy photo)

Rideshare program provides savings and award-winning service to FAFB, Spokane and Airway Heights

Emily Rebert, a realty specialist with the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron, accepts an award during a Commute Smart Northwest Champions Awards event in Spokane, Washington, Feb. 8, 2024. Rebert was selected as a champion commuter for her commitment and support of Fairchild Air Force Base’s rideshare program. CSNW recognized Fairchild AFB as a platinum level employer and recognized other members of Fairchild AFB as champion commuters and leaders. The rideshare program utilizes vanpools, carpools and Spokane Transit Authority buses to help remove over 8,300 trips and 141,000 miles being driven on local roadways every year. (Courtesy photo)

Rideshare program provides savings and award-winning service to FAFB, Spokane and Airway Heights

Published March 14, 2024
By Airman 1st Class Matthew Arachikavitz
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --

Did you know the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron has a rideshare program that provides members of Team Fairchild easy travel options around the base, in Spokane and Airway Heights?

Members of Team Fairchild can experience Spokane Transit’s award-winning bus, vanpooling and carpooling services.

“These alternative ways to commute are convenient options that help to eliminate 280,000 miles from being driven on our local roads and 100 metric tons of greenhouse gasses from being emitted every year,” said Joshua Potter, 92nd CES air program manager and employee transportation coordinator. “This makes our roads last longer and the air cleaner for our community.”

All members of Team Fairchild can receive monthly STA bus passes for free.

Potter said the program was implemented in 2000 to save members money and reduce the community’s environmental impact by making alternative commuting options more readily available.

He also noted that the average Fairchild AFB employee spends approximately $900 a month to own and operate a commuter vehicle. The Air Force pays 100 percent of the monthly cost to utilize a vanpool or to ride the bus to work through the Federal Mass Transit Subsidy.

Vanpools are groups of three or more people who share a similar commute from home to work. Vanpool groups meet at locations throughout the area and use Spokane Transit-owned vans to commute to and from Fairchild AFB. There are currently 13 active vanpools that meet in Spokane County and drive to Fairchild AFB each day.

Commute Smart Northwest recently recognized Fairchild AFB as a platinum level employer for the second year in a row. This award was presented to recognize the base for excellent employer strategies and practices in the areas of performance, programming and engagement.

CSNW works with over 110 businesses throughout Spokane County to implement Commute Smart programs that promote and encourage the use of alternate commute options including riding transit, carpooling, STA Rideshare (vanpool), walking, bicycling, teleworking and compressing work schedules.

Kristin Nester, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron installation management flight chief, was recognized as one of CSNW’s 2023 champion business leaders. Out of over 100 worksites that are active commute alternative supporters, this award was presented to only four local leaders. Tyler Smith, 92nd CES deputy base civil engineer, and Emily Rebert, a realty specialist assigned to the 92nd CES, were both recognized as 2023 champion commuters.

For more information regarding the Fairchild AFB rideshare program or how to take advantage of any program listed above, please call Joshua Potter at 509-247-8139 or email him at joshua.potter.2@us.af.mil.

To find a carpool partner, try the free ride-matching service for Spokane County located at www.commutesmartnw.com. Bus schedules and route maps are available at www.spokanetransit.com.