CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan -- Marine Corps Installations Pacific recently implemented an enrichment plan to The Green Line bus program March 1 to reduce costs, and free up buses and drivers for short-notice mission support requirements without impacting routine schedules.

The Green Line enrichment plan includes several initiatives designed to improve efficiencies and customer service across a broad spectrum while reducing operating costs and promoting fleet sustainment, according to Gary M. Snyder, deputy assistant chief of staff, G-4, supply and logistics, MCIPAC.

“The enrichment plan has been carefully crafted based on a comprehensive review of The Green Line’s operations and is data based,” said Snyder. “The plan also takes into account rider, route and scheduling desires acquired from the commanding general’s quality-of-life councils, customer evaluations, single Marine program and town hall meetings, and email feedback to garrison mobile equipment and The Green Line’s organizational mailbox.”

The Green Line combined its two northern express routes into a single route. Express buses at Camps Schwab, Hansen, Courtney and Kinser now shuttle riders throughout the camps. This combined intercamp and intracamp shuttle service replaces the previous intracamp shuttle bus aboard each of these camps, according to Master Gunnery Sgt. Saintclare L. Simpson, fleet manager, GME, G-4, supply and logistics, MCIPAC.

“This plan provides GME with greater managerial tools that will support Marines and sailors,” said Simpson. “Adjusting to the new schedule may cause some friction. However, I am confident the benefits will outweigh any inconvenience.”

According to Snyder, the plan addresses issues brought up through meetings and feedback, such as providing an everyday service to the commissary and upper work area at Camp Courtney and connecting services between Camp Courtney and Camps Hansen and Schwab.

A surge-lift capability is also included in the plan, which will allow for an extra bus to be dispatched from Camps Foster or Hansen by a standby emergency relief driver when an excess of passengers is at a bus stop and cannot fit on the scheduled bus as determined by the on-scene driver and GME duty foreman.

All aspects of the enrichment plan are designed with Marines in mind, according to Sgt. Maj. Patrick L. Kimble, the sergeant major for MCIPAC.

“The Green Line is a great service which must be cared for and treated with respect,” said Kimble. “By reacting to feedback and demand with this plan, MCIPAC is showing its continued commitment to the quality of life of its service members.”

For more information and a full schedule, visit www.mcipac.marines.mil/MCIPAC/CampButler/Resources/TheGreenLine.aspx.

Significant changes

The #2 and #4 buses combined, forming the #2/4 route, which runs from Camps Foster to Schwab via Camps Courtney and Hansen. This provides continual service to the Camp Courtney Commissary, along with weekend and holiday connections to the #4-T Taiyo Golf Course shuttle.

The #8 Camp Foster to Camp Lester and back to Foster route now only operates from the Stillwell Drive bus stop, which is across the street from the III MEF Band building.  

The #44 Foster intrashuttle eliminated its current “up-down” routing to focus on connecting to the new U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa facility on Camp Foster and to other critical areas aboard Foster, to include building 1. Connection to the #44 bus from outer camps is at the Camp Foster concession mall bus stop.   

Intracamp shuttles have been replaced by the express bus #2/4 route for Camps Schwab, Hansen and Courtney, while the #6 route provides intrashuttle service on Camp Kinser.