National Online Dialogue on Veterans' Transportation For Individual Participants: Overcoming Barriers

A number of commenters' have included the need to better use existing transportation systems and the ability to get information quickly through technology. Our existing network, which has over 500 stations across the U.S., has 220 stations located near VA facilities. We believe there are opportunities for veterans to use Amtrak’s system to travel to appointments at these VA facilities and get the best care possible.... more »

Happy June 8th from Eugene, OR…!
Good Morning everyone,
I would like to introduce myself, I am Harold McCain Employment Specialist here at the Lindholm Prosperity Center located at 456 Hwy 99 N. Eugene, OR 97402. I am a disabled Veteran and I also work with the “Veterans In Progress” program which is funded by The Department of Labor grant. The transportation issues facing the homeless Veterans in our region here... more »

One can hardly convey the importance of monitoring the spirit of the "American With Disabilities Act"which one mistakingly concludes" is a given".Not true.One still has to be in the right place at the right time and stand up to be counted for "ideas"to be carried out and bare fruit.The A.D.A.offers that opportunity to civilians and veterans alike as long as one stays current with the ongoing development of the act.Know... more »

Please issue a transport pass to all veterans,military personnel and reservists and their families valid in USA . This willl be valid in all transport systems.let them have ride with 50 percent discount.disabled will have free transport.

I believe there should be some way to assist veterans to help pay off previous car loans opened while serving in active duty

At the NM VA, we are unable to transport Veterans' Family members due to liability issues. This is frequently a barrier to supporting Veterans when we are able to transport the Veteran to an important medical appt. and yet the family member has to take public transportation. In essence, this implies that we are not supporting Veterans' family.

we have innovation that can be developed to cut transportation time usage - for veterans who live in Rural areas and the innovation it would benefit the disabled Veteran and homeless veteran.through an improved way to reach more veterans and their families with supportive services

What about veterans who are only able to get transport assistance to & from medical appts (either from the VA or their county services), & nothing to help with other life necessity needs? That don't have access to public transportation?

VA physicians constantly urge patients to get out more in order to improve their outlook & quality of life, as it's well documented that this can aid in a patient's overall health, but... more »

I suggest that all veterans after being stateside for a month should be provided a mobility assessment evaluation. Veterans Transportation traditionally has been used to get veterans from home to a medical appointment and back. A thorough mobility assessment would identify other transportation barriers and the services that are not accessible for an individual. Only after this information is documented then strategies... more »

What happens in case of emergencies - for instance, the need to accompany or visit a family member to the hospital? Or to go to a funeral? How do you deal with that if you have trouble with transportation in your daily life?

For the Multi-modal communities with having large populations with surrounding rural areas, in conjunction with the increases of aging baby-boomers, disabled communities, the health benefits of these communities to continue to network, stay active in the remaining life span, while the aging infrastructure of major metropolitan areas are weighted with other costs, including the burdens of transporting these same communities... more »

Transporting aloved one is often one of the biggest issues for caregivers. Whether it is time lost from work, getting informaiton about how to safely and accessibly use theri own vehicle or finding community resources with people they trust to provide transportation, there is a great need for more information targeted at caregivers.

There's a hearing right now in the House about mental health treatment in the VHA. Staffing and wait times are of course the major problems - has anyone run into lack of transportation as a problem for receiving adequate treatment?

The greatest barrier to providing public transportation to wounded and ther familes at the national military medical center in San Antonio, is access to the post. Since 2001 VIA's buses running regular routes have not been allowed on post at Fort Sam Houston. A protocol to make bus service practical would solve a lot of problems. The ball is in DoD's court.

Bus Leasing companies depreciate their equipment over time and find that at a point the equipment has no value on the books. If Federal or state government can offer tax credit to donate depreciated equipment to local volunteer transportation services ,alternative transportation options could result.