In recognition of the sacrifices and service given to the U.S. by its military veterans, many public transportation systems observed the Veterans Day holiday this year by paying tribute to these heroes in a variety of ways.

APTA sponsored Public Transportation Supports America’s Veterans Day, the goal of which was to bring greater awareness that public transportation jobs include skills veterans may already have obtained through their military service. Additionally, public transportation organizations already employ returning veterans.

The public transportation industry saluted and thanked U.S. veterans for their dedicated service and showed a commitment to recruiting veterans to careers in the public transit industry and connecting them, by public transit, to available services and resources.

“Nationally, our industry is seeking to hire veterans, many of whom have skills that match jobs in the public transportation industry,” said APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy. “We encourage veterans across the country to explore job opportunities at their local public transportation system. The skills that veterans have learned in the military may very well be transferable to a variety of jobs at a public transit system or a business that is part of the public transportation supply chain.”

Here are just some of the many activities.

Free Rides and Special Service
Several agencies invited veterans (and, in some cases, also active duty military and family members) to ride free on Veterans Day, including the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority in Charleston, SC; the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) in Fort Worth, TX; the North County Transit District (NCTD), Oceanside, CA; the Denton County Transportation Authority in Lewisville, TX; the San Joaquin Regional Transit District, Stockton, CA; and the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, Tampa, FL.

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), Lancaster, CA, provides free rides to veterans every day of the year.

Other public transit systems helped take veterans to special events. In Boston, Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail partnered with Military Friends to take veterans, service members, and families of the fallen to the New England Patriots-Buffalo Bills football game, riding on the Gold Star Memorial Coach decorated with the names of Massachusetts military personnel lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As part of a Commuter Advertising campaign, Applebee’s restaurants promoted their free entrée program for veterans in Dayton, OH; the Chicago area; Kansas City, MO; and Jacksonville, FL, through on-bus audio advertising. These messages were a bonus to a revenue-generating transit advertising contract Applebee’s signed in those markets.

In many places, public transportation provided special service to veterans’ events. Pace Suburban Bus, Arlington Heights, IL, participated in two job fairs for veterans. The Lane Transit District, Eugene, OR, operated a free shuttle to the Lane County Stand Down event for homeless veterans.

Los Angeles Metro supported the three-day San Gabriel Valley “Heroes in the Shadows” Homeless Veterans Stand Down in South El Monte, both by providing transportation to the event and providing organizers with Metro “Jobs for Veterans” contact cards. Metro also participated in the Veterans Appreciation Festival at the USS Iowa in San Pedro.

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, Oakland, CA, provided marketing support to a veterans organization in Castro Valley, CA, which is planning a future “Stand Down” event to address the needs of homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.

MTA New York City Transit had planned a veterans’ recognition ceremony for Nov. 15 as Passenger Transport went to press.

AVTA participated in the region’s annual Antelope Valley Veterans Parade. The agency invited its employees and their family members to walk the parade route, with a local transit bus bringing up the rear.

The Area Transportation Authority of North Central Pennsylvania, Johnsonburg, PA, provided transportation support for a bridge dedication in its service area in Brookville, PA, incorporating the APTA Veterans logo into its dedication bus graphics. The bridge is now called the Jefferson County Purple Heart Bridge.

Employment Opportunities
Many public transit agencies invited veterans to consider employment opportunities in the field and recognized agency employees with a military background.

First Transit, based in Cincinnati, has entered into a partnership with the U.S. Army’s Partnership for Youth Success program: a nationwide initiative with hundreds of corporate partners, offering potential jobs to returning or retiring soldiers.

The T in Fort Worth publicized the names and job responsibilities of all its employees who are military veterans or members of the National Guard or reserves—ranging from president to service station attendant.

In Louisville, KY, the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) honored employees who are veterans with a message board in the transportation lounge, showing photos and information such as branch and dates of service. TARC employees also made charitable contributions to help support the family of a veteran in the community.

Mountain Line Transit in Morgantown, WV, made a presentation about its T-OPS (Transportation Options for Veterans and Their Families) program. Veterans make up 25 percent of the agency’s current workforce, and Mountain Line invited veterans at the event to apply for job openings.

LYNX, Orlando, FL, collected stories from its employees’ military service and displayed them on buses, on banners and flyers throughout its facilities, through social media and on the agency’s internal Internet system.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Orange, CA, employs approximately 125 veterans and honors them at an annual Veterans Day event. OCTA gives special recognition to employees whose children or grandchildren are currently serving or have served in the military.

Gold Coast Transit, Oxnard, CA, encouraged all veterans it employs to wear a cap or jacket that honored their military service during their shifts on Nov. 11 and 12.

OmniTrans, San Bernardino, CA, ran print and online ads listing its 89 veteran employees and quotes from selected veterans who ride the bus. It also provided information on how veterans can register online to receive job posting alerts and information on a future Bus Rapid Transit line that will serve a veterans’ health care facility.

The North County Transit District wrapped one of its Coaster commuter rail cars with a vinyl graphic that salutes the military.

LYNX showcased its employees who have served in the military.	Each year the Orange County Transportation Authority holds a Veteran's Day event commemorating the military service of its employees. At last year's event, an OCTA coach operator shows a photo of himself during his serving in the Vietnam War.

 

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