November 3, 2017
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Public Transit Assists Veterans

While Veterans Day is the federally designated holiday to honor those who have fought for our country’s freedom, public transit agencies understand the importance of remembering these men and women the other 364 days of the year.

Coast RTA in Conway, SC, is one example of an agency partnering with local organizations to benefit veterans. It provides service to the VA Clinic on its fixed-route and paratransit service, along with half-price fares for veterans most days and free rides on Veterans Day.

The agency also serves on the committee that oversees the annual Veterans’ Stand Down, an event at the VA Reserve designed to combat homelessness in the veteran community. Since the event’s inception, Coast RTA has provided free bus passes and shuttle service and helped with event planning, as well as distributing informational ­fliers on buses and at terminal and transfer stations.

As part of its outreach to veterans, the Spokane (WA) Transit Authority (STA) annually transports Pearl Harbor survivors and their families to the city’s memorial commemorating the Dec. 7, 1941, attack. STA also donated a van to the local Veterans Administration to transport veterans with disabilities and posts commemorative messages—“Remember Our Troops” every Friday and “Thank You Veterans” on Veterans Day—on its bus header signs.

“We’re honored to be able to help as we can with any local need of the veteran groups and services,” said Michelle Cantey, public information officer for Coast RTA.

Laketran in Lake County, OH, has a long-standing partnership with the county commissioners and Lake County Veterans Service Commission to provide free Dial-a-Ride service to medical facilities. Recently it expanded service by subsidizing free rides to local adult daycare facilities.

In Bakersfield, CA, Golden Empire Transit (GET) is providing free service throughout November. “This is a small way for GET to thank veterans for their service,” said Chief Executive Officer Karen King.

Other examples include service to a VA hospital campus in Hampton, VA, by Hampton Roads Transit; three Jacksonville (FL) Transportation Authority routes, including First Coast Flyer Green Line BRT, that serve the Jacksonville VA Clinic; and the Santa Clara ­Valley Transportation Authority’s donation of four buses to the Homeless Veterans Emergency Housing Facility in San Jose, CA.

APTA has created a toolkit to assist the public transportation industry’s efforts to help veterans connect to available services and resources, including logo artwork and a suggested activities list. Find the toolkit at the APTA website.
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