Airmail, Feb. 15 Published Feb. 19, 2007 By Col. Robert E. Suminsby Jr. 377th Air Base Wing commander KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO -- Gate delays during lunch Question While I normally try to eat lunch on base, the last two days I've had to run errands off base during my lunch hour. Upon returning each day, I was greeted with a nearly 20 minute wait to get into the Eubank Gate one day and the Wyoming Gate the next. Each was down to one lane during a busy part of the day. The backup was nearly a hundred cars. Would it be possible, given the current environment of tight budgets, to just open one more lane from noon to 1:30 p.m. each day as hundreds of people return from errands and lunch among the hundreds of others coming on to use the base facilities? I know the backup has cost the lab as well as tenant commands lost productivity due to members having unusually long waits at the gates. Answer Thank you for your comments. The 20-minute gate backup you experienced is unusual. We routinely survey traffic backups at our gates and find that they average 10-12 minutes from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. This lunch backup is due to the decision to structure our contract in order to ease the entry of morning commuter traffic onto the base. This results in limited contract guards available for assignment to our gates during the lunch period. CSC/Dyncorp management has come up with a creative solution to make additional swing shift manpower available for lunch traffic at each major gate and we are researching this option. If approved for inclusion in the contract we are hopeful that this solution will help us to deal with unpredictable lunchtime traffic surges, such as the one you experienced. If you continue to experience unacceptable traffic waits while we explore this option, I recommend using the Truman Gate. Its design offers the best option for entering the base from restaurants on Gibson Avenue. I am certain most commuters would agree that accommodating our morning traffic surges should remain our priority. However, I assure you that we are always looking to improve the use of our limited entry control resources for the benefit of all Kirtland personnel. Contact Airmail We want your suggestions and comments; however, you may also call base agencies or use the chain of command. Callers to Airmail will not have their names printed in the Nucleus. To submit Airmail, e-mail airmail@kirtland.af.mil, call 846-4240, or write 377 ABW/CC Airmail 2000 Wyoming Blvd. SE Kirtland AFB, NM 87117 Customer service numbers Chapel 846-5691 Civil Engineer Help Desk 846-8222 Commissary 846-9586 Computer Help 846-5926 Energy Wasting 846-4633 Exchange Service 266-9887 Finance 846-8045 Law Enforcement 846-7926 Legal Services 846-4217 Medical Clinic 846-3406 Services 846-1828 Family Support 846-0741