Public transportation in Huntsville

Several employees have asked about the availability of public transportation in Huntsville.

Although it’s not as convenient and prevelant as in Northern Virginia, it’s still a viable option.  Here’s the info:

Public Transportation Division

City of Huntsville
Public Transportation Division
500B Church Street
Huntsville, AL 35801

John T. Brown, Director
Telephone: 256-427-6811
E-mail: Tommy.Brown@hsvcity.com

The goal of the Public Transportation Division is to provide adequate and efficient community transportation services for the general public, senior citizens, physically challenged citizens, commuters, and individuals with limited transportation alternatives.

SHUTTLE BUS SYSTEM (fixed route)

Operates Mon thru Fri from 6 AM to 6 PM on thirteen (13) routes (maps & time schedules) covering more than 175 miles of city streets each hour of service. One of these routes is the Tourist Trolley Loop. There is a Downtown Route FREE on the weekends from 7 pm to 2 am. It targets city attractions and motels and restaurants. (Tourist Loop Brochure)

FARES

One-way fare…..$1.00
Senior (60+) and Disabled Citizens and Medicare Card Holders…..$ .50
Children 6 and under…..$ .50
Students with valid student ID…..$ .50
TRANSFERS…..FREE
Tourist Trolley - ALL DAY…..$2.00
*Senior, and Disabled Citizens, VALID MEDICARE card holders, Children 6 and under, Students with valid student ID…..$1.00

In addition to being available from Bus Drivers on all Buses, complete system maps and schedules are distributed at 15 facilities.

Service animals are welcome on all City of Huntsville public transit vehicles.

HANDI-RIDE for seniors and disabled citizens

Operates ADA Paratransit Service for individuals with disabilities who because of their disability are unable to use the fixed route buses. This specialized, door-to-door, demand-response paratransit service is available Monday thru Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM. ADA Partransit service application and advanced reservations by 5pm the day before are required to schedule this service. The 14 vehicles are radio dispatched and ADA accessible. Call 256-427-6857.

RIDESHARE

RideShare is a computerized service for working commuters. The service links commuters with potential carpooling companions. To sign up for this service, commuters must complete a RideShare Information Request form. Companies can also request that the RideShare coordinator conduct on-site surveys to help their employees develop carpool relationships. In December, 2001, the RideShare database contained 1200 commuters. RideShare has contact with approximately 30 of Huntsville’s largest employers.

CSRS and FERS Retirement Seminars - 7 & 8 October 2008

The Army Benefits Center will conduct on-site CSRS and FERS Retirement seminars for HQ AMC employees located in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.  The seminar will cover topics such as FEHB and FEGLI benefits, VERA/VSIP and Discontinued Service Retirement.   Copies of slides can be found at the links provided below.  Please bring copies of slides with you as they will not be provided at the seminar.

 

CSRS Employees:  7 October 2008, from 0800 – 1530 (with a break for lunch)

 

Location:  Villar Conference Room 

 

Slides found at:  https://www.abc.army.mil/retirements/CSRSSlidesAug2008.ppt

 

FERS Employees:  8 October 2008, from 0800 – 1530 (with break for lunch)

 

Location:  War Room, 1-1NE1209 (Interpreter will be provided)

 

Slides found at:  https://www.abc.army.mil/retirements/FERSSlidesAug2008.ppt

 

If you have received a copy of your retirement estimate and have questions, please bring the estimate with you.  The counselor will be available for a short period after the seminar is finished for questions and answers.

 

POCs are Elaine Twiner and Cathy Cherney, G-1 BRAC team and Althea Ray, CPAC.

Latest AMC/USASAC BRAC timeline

 

Since the award of the AMC/USASAC building contract and the groundbreaking, the timeline for the AMC/USASAC BRAC move has been adjusted to reflect the latest changes, including the 2nd VERA/VSIP.

 

 

And the construction timeline gives a more detailed synopsis of the construction progress:

 

AMC employees offered 2nd VERA/VSIP opportunity

Those employees not relocating to Redstone Arsenal now have a second opportunity to file for VERA/VSIP.

Here are the details:

• Interested employees must apply between Nov. 3 - Dec. 3, 2008
• The Army Benefits Center will conduct VERA/VSIP training in October 2008
• Supervisors and staff principals have between Dec. 4 - Dec. 12, 2008 to approve or disapprove your request
• Ms. Condon will make the final approval/disapproval between Dec. 13 - 31
• G-1 will notify you of your approval/disapproval no later than Dec. 31, 2008
• Once approved you may choose a seperation date between Oct. 1, 2009 - Feb. 3, 2010

Contact your supervisor for further details.

DNRP and RITA clarification

Did you know your RITA will not be applied to your HMIP?

HMIP is considered a Relocation entitlement and is thus taxed accordingly. The general tax applied to RITA is 33%, the tax applied to HMIP is 32.95%.

The IRS considers the majority of relocation entitlements to be taxable. Per the “Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993. These entitlements include Relocation Services(i.e. HMIP).

This memo may provide further information.

CG Town Hall

Here are the slides from the CG’s Sept. 17 Town Hall hosted from Redstone Arsenal and here is the video.

Decatur-Morgan County WAFF 48 JobLink Job Fair

DECATUR-MORGAN COUNTY WAFF 48 JobLink JOB FAIR

Turner-Surles Community Center  
Thursday, September 25th, 2008 10am - 3pm

What is the Job Fair?
This event helps job seekers discover that Decatur-Morgan County is a great place to work and has great jobs available. Meet the key employers in the Decatur-Morgan County area. Speak directly with hiring managers. Learn about local career opportunities. Job seekers attend for FREE. 

Why Decatur-Morgan County?
Decatur-Morgan County reports the highest income growth in North Alabama, according to the 8/8/2008 Decatur Daily.

When is the event?  
Thursday, September 25th, 2008 from 10am - 3pm

Where is it? 

Turner-Surles Community Center
702 Sycamore Street
Decatur, AL

Registered employers  for the Decatur-Morgan County Job Fair:  

·         Hunter Homes

·         Enterprise Rent-A-Car

·         Micor Industries, Inc.

·         M & D Mechanical

·         CR Compressors, LLC

·         Automatic Screw Machine Products Company

·         Parkway Medical Center

·         KFC

·         Eaton Hydraulics

·         Hargrove and Associates

·         ITW Sexton

·         Pro-Air Services, Inc.

·         Verizon Wireless

·         Hardee’s

·         Alabama Department of Corrections

How to prepare for this event:

• Use our RESUME BUILDER to create a secure and confidential profile.
• Include details about your experience. Employers attending the job fair are looking for your skill sets.
• Create a WAFF48 JobLink Account
  • Enter your email address and create a password here
  • Upload your resume
• Save your resume on CD or USB and bring it to the job fair.
• Bring plenty of paper resumes to distribute.
• Dress for success and come ready to network.
• Book mark this page for updates on participating employers.

What if I do not have a resume?

• You can still give employers access to your skill sets
• Create a WAFF 48 JobLink Account
  • Enter your email address and create a password here
  • Create a profile and spotlight your skills
  • Use the WAFF 48 JobLink to build a resume online

Spouse in need of employment?

Several HQAMC-Forward employees have mentioned their struggle to find employment for their spouses who relocated with them. 

Here is a list of useful programs and Web sites to assist you in your search:

Employment programs:

• Priority Placement Program for Spouses
• Alabama Career Centers
• Alabama Job Fairs and Public Events

Local employment Web sites:

• Huntsville Times
• Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Job Web site
• Alabama JobLink
• Alabama CareerLink
• State of Alabama Jobs
• WAFF 48 JobLink
• Morale, Welfare and Recreation
• Redstone Arsenal vacancies (also printed on the back page of each week’s edition of the Redstone Rocket)

National employment Web sites:

• AMC Civilian Careers
• Army civilian vacancies (CPOL)
• USA Jobs
• Monster
• CareerBuilder
• Simply Hired - a very useful site that searches all employment Web sites

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce also has a Workforce Coordinator that can facilitate your spouse’s resume, just contact Mitzi Floyd at mfloyd@hsvchamber.org or (256) 535-2089.

AMC/USASAC Groundbreaking

As many of you know, AMC and USASAC held a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 17 for our new facilities at Redstone Arsenal. 

Here’s the full story.

You can view the full ceremony video here and here are more pictures from the event.

 

Media coverage of the event was positive and here are a few of the highlights: 

WAAY at 6

WHNT at 10

WZDX at 9

Huntsville Times (2 stories)

Building construction camera coming soon!

There’s lots of developments down here at Redstone, one of the latest is the official demolition of building 4489 which resided on the lot where the new AMC and USASAC building will be constructed. 

To keep our audience updated on the BRAC progress, a camera has been installed across the street and will provide daily time-lapse footage of the construction progress.

The footage from the demolition is already available and can be viewed at www.amc.army.mil/trans, daily updates are expected to begin Sept. 29.