Improving Mobility for Veterans (2011) / Chapter Skim
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57 Chapter 5 IMPROVING VETERANS' MOBILITY: STRATEGIES FOR TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS This chapter provides strategies that transportation providers can use to improve veterans' mobility, assessment tools for transportation providers and planners, and a travel options survey. Public transportation agencies, human service transportation program managers, and community transportation providers will find this information useful in understanding the mobility needs of veterans.
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From page 56... ...
They primarily transport veterans to VAMCs or other veteran-related facilities but not to other destinations. There is a growing need for community transportation providers and professionals to work with veterans and to provide necessary trips to private doctors, social and recreational engagement, health and nutrition sites, and volunteer activities.
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Veterans who require accessible vehicles for local trips and nonmedical trips could benefit from community transportation programs such as those provided by human service transportation agencies or local public paratransit services. Misconception # 3: Community Transportation Providers Reach Out to the Veterans' Community to Collaborate on Transportation Programs Much Like They Work with Groups Representing Older Adults, Individuals with Disabilities, and Low-Income Families Levels of collaboration and coordination between human service agencies and community transportation providers have increased substantially over the years.
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For instance, one VSO used a 15-passenger van and a 17-passenger bus when the average number of passengers per vehicle was 5. Other regions have hired taxicab companies to transport veterans individually.
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For VAMCs, this kind of arrangement eliminates the unpredictability of billing for rides by other methods, and veterans continue to receive quality service. For example, Indianapolis Yellow Cab has a contract with its local VAMC under which the taxi drivers serve veterans with flat-rate fares.
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In 2009, a Washington state bridge closure would have adversely affect DAV transportation programs accessing services in Seattle. The state DOT, working with local VAMC and DAV offices, devised a plan for veterans to access mainland services using existing DOT rural public transit routes which would link on the mainland with DAV vehicles which would transport veterans to the VAMC.
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(See page 43 for more information.) Offer Assistance in Vehicle Acquisition Public transit and other transportation agencies may be in a position to include VSOs in capital acquisition plans or to transfer older vehicles to VSOs.
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Focus on several key issues: o Veterans with mobility disabilities: Current veterans' transportation services tend to focus on ambulatory riders; veterans with special travel needs can benefit from public transportation services. o Long-distance trips: Particularly in rural areas, long-distance trips can be a challenge for any transportation provider.
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Develop plans that include all transportation modes and providers, including volunteer services: A large current strength of veterans' transportation services are the efforts they receive from volunteer drivers. These volunteers are crucial to maintaining costeffective transportation services.
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The questionnaire shown in Table 3 was created for community transportation providers, human service transportation program managers, or others who would like to expand their transportation services to the veterans' community. The questions and statements below allow transportation professionals to assess where they stand in terms of involvement with veterans' transportation.
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________________________________ [Names of neighborhoods, cities or counties] [You may contact your local Veterans Service Organizations or Veterans Service Commissions for the above information.
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68 Table 3 (continued)
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This table is probably best filled out on a provider by provider basis. Note that, in order to ensure that transportation services plans are responsive to the needs of local veterans, a separate needs assessment should be conducted among the local veterans themselves.
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Provide dispatching services for VSOs 5. Work with other agencies with transportation programs 6.
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Table 5: HOW TO IMPROVE VETERANS' MOBILITY: HOW TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES CAN BUILD SERVICES WITH VETERANS Strategies for building connections with VSOs Types of transportation providers Large Transit Agency in Metro Area Small Transit Agency in Rural Area Volunteerbased Program VAaffiliated Program Human Service Transportation Taxi Contractor Medical Transportation Provider Nonprofit Agency Others 1. Provide vehicle acquisition assistance to VSOs 2.
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