Getting rides to and from military bases is often difficult for folks who need to get there. Public transportation is limited, and ride-share drivers like Lyft and Uber face delays due to base entry requirements. The Army is now testing a program to make this easier.
They’re starting a pilot program at six major bases to streamline ride-sharing. This means they’re working to simplify the rules for drivers. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll initiated this after experiencing the problem firsthand. The goal is to provide soldiers and their families with reliable transportation.
Right now, ride-share drivers need visitor passes for each base entry, which is time-consuming. The pilot program will vet drivers through background checks.
Once cleared, drivers will only need to show their ride-share app and confirm the passenger’s identity at the gate. This will speed up the process.
The six bases in the pilot program are in Texas, North Carolina, Washington, and Hawaii. If successful, the program could expand to other bases. Uber is partnering with the Army on this initiative.
Fort Carson in Colorado, which is not part of the pilot, already has a similar program in place. They’ve vetted over 800 drivers, giving them passes for easier base access.
