JBLM commander defines local commute area Published Sept. 7, 2012 By Sandra Pishner 446th Airlift WIng Public Affairs MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- Reservists who commute to Joint Base Lewis-McChord for duty receive travel pay based on distance. Those traveling from outside an established commuting area are eligible for lodging. . Just what that commute area is has changed. Based on a policy memorandum recently signed by the Joint Base Garrison commander, and coordinated with the 446th Airlift Wing commander, the local travel area surrounding Joint Base Lewis-McChord has been redefined. This policy memorandum supersedes previous procedures for determining local commute area contained in 446th AW/CC Interim Guidance Memorandum dated 4 August 2009. "Before, the guidance we followed to determine the local commute area was 50 miles or one hour drive time. But, the Joint Federal Travel Regulation specifies that we can't use an arbitrary radius to define the local commuting area," said Butch Cruz, 446th AW Financial Management Office. "And the JFTR also gives the installation commander the authority to establish the commute area." The local travel area surrounding JBLM is defined as Pierce and Thurston counties and portions of Lewis, King, Kitsap, and Mason counties. Zip codes more precisely identify the commute area. "I think a few more people will now be outside the local commute area, thereby increasing requirements for lodging a bit," said Cruz, who also is a senior master sergeant with the 446th Operations Group. "An area we focused on was Seattle. Under the new policy, the Seattle area north of I-90 is now outside the local commute area. Previously, some of those areas were considered local." The new guidance becomes effective for Reservists here for all travel beginning on or after Nov. 1. "This delay is to give the wing Airmen time to become familiar with the new policy and to make necessary adjustments to lodging rosters," explains Cruz. "This policy applies to all Reservists, regardless of status, when determining their commute status." Assignment of government quarters to 446th AW Reservists who live in the local commute area for safety or mission requirement will require wing commander approval. Temporary road closures, road maintenance, severe weather and similar transportation restrictions are not sufficient reasons for changing the defined commute area. However, the policy does not restrict commanders from assigning government quarters for safety. Reservists can find the new policy, with list of zip codes defining the commute area, on the wing's SharePoint page under "Announcements."