National Online Dialogue on Veterans' Transportation Browse Recent ideas

As lead agency for regional coordination under the banner EasTexConnects, the East Texas Council of Governments worked with partners on an Interconnectivity Day on May 10th to illustrate the benefits of public transportation. The premise was that providers would provide free transportation to those using more than one mode. To give the day focus, veterans were targeted to make a multimodal trip to the Dallas VA Hospital.... more »

Para transit is a limited option in Putnam County NY. Only about one-third of the county is covered by fixed route public transit making that the area also covered by Para. The county provides the minimum coverage required by law, 3/4 mile from the fixed route. I would like to see Para requirements expanded beyond the 3/4 limit along with regional connections to surrounding counties.

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

Similar to frequent flyer miles, NEMT providers should offer frequent traveler points that will add up whenever transportation services is used. After so many points you can get free or discounted rides based on your point system. This would actually encourage people to continue using your service and in return you would help them have a better quality of life by getting out. It doesn't necessarily have to be just to... more »

Family, friends and paid care givers play an important role in supporting veterans and wounded warriors - and transportaiton is a service provided by many caregivers. Is anyone familiar with communities supporting caregivers that provide transportaiton? what are they doing to support these unsung heroes?

In the Chicago area, there are VA medical service locations, which offer vanpool service to and from. There also is a good local public transit - paratransit service - if in some format there was coordination between the government entities, there would be a greater choice, less wait time, and savings for such entities. But the government powers that be are not willing to share or reduce there oversight of transit services.... more »

Thanks to Secretary LaHood and the U.S. DOT team for their focus on improving transportation options for our active armed forces, military veterans, and their families. In reading the comments posted to date I am especially interested in the ones that involve public transportation and am further informed by this specific input from across America. The American Public Transportation Association and its members knows... more »

Scanning the ideas already submitted ... it seems that transportation is paramount ... more so accessible transportation for Veterans, Family members of Veterans as well as Military personnel and their families.

I am sure there are a lot of innovative transportation ideas, whereby transit agencies took the challenges and sought out opportunities ... below are some thoughts that may help jumpstart the opportunity process.... more »

My experience has been that it is very difficult to find who to talk to within veterans organizations. I have talked to different veterans organizations, VSOs, Dept. of VA and VA hospitals and they all have differing views on transportation and what can and needs to be done. There is a movement to create mobility managers and new accessible transportation programs within veteran systems. Two problems with this are that... more »

It's good to know there is a wealth of information on the internet about services provided to Veterans. But I have found the challenge in knowing where to look and how to search without being overwhelmed in accessing the information. As a transportation provider, it would be extremely beneficial for there to be a One-source information center for transportation providers to locate transportation services, benefits, programs,... more »

I have found the greater need for Veterans is reliable, affordable, transportation to their medical appointments. Missed appointments and preventive care visits lead to influx emergency care, resulting in increased expenses for everyone. The solution is Coordinated Transporation Scheduling through Emerging Technology. It would be very efficient for medical appointment scheduler personnel to coordinate the transportation... more »

To encourage Veterans to use Public Transportation, I recommend that Congress amend Section 5307(d)(1)(D) of Title 49 of the U.S. Code to include that Veterans presenting military identification cards during the operation of off peak-hour, fixed route service are entitled to travel for half the peak fixed route fare. This will grant non-disabled Veterans the same level of benefit as the elderly, persons with disabilities,... more »

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 »

Our transit agency provided low cost fare cards to the local Veterans Group one time. I feel that there should be some monies to allow the Veterans' Groups to purchase fare cards that could be utilized by Veterans who are now unable to drive.

Our transit system would love to work directly with the closest VA Hospital so that we can get vets there, but they have so many restrictions that it seems they can't even talk to us. We can't even call them unless we go through a board member who has a military ID. One local group has a van making trips to the hospital, but it's not accessible. We'd like to help with that, but we can't seem to get the communication... more »