Veteran’s Van Initiative Announced
Officials in Putnam are hoping a change to the county’s transportation system will make life a little easier for local veterans.
Operation of the Veteran’s Van, which transports veterans to medical appointments at Veterans Affairs facilities in Montrose and Castle Point, will be transferred from the Office for the Aging to the county’s transportation department, which will expand its hours of operations without additional costs to the county.
“We’re trying to enhance mobility for our veterans. It’s difficult for them to get to Montrose or Castle Point,” County Executive MaryEllen Odell told The Putnam Examiner. “We have the staff and we have the busses. They’re moving around anyway.”
The transfer of the van stemmed from a recommendation from the county’s Transportation Task Force, an initiative to improve public transportation within Putnam.
The OFA only operates from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., while the transit department’s First Dispatch office runs from 4:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
“I took a look at the Office for the Aging fleet, and when I was looking at the fleet for the senior citizens I saw the Veteran’s Van there,” said TTF Chair Vincent Tamagna. “For Office for the Aging, it would require overtime to go beyond the hours that they’re open for business [to run the van at night].”
The van was purchased by OFA last fall with funding from the Putnam County Capital Funds, according to a press release from Odell’s office. OFA worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs for the scheduling and day-to-day operations of the van.
“As its popularity began to develop, it became clear that it would be better managed by the County Transit Department as they have the ability to operate longer hours,” OFA Director Pat Sheehy stated in the press release.
Director of Veterans Service Karl Rohde called the transfer “a home run” for the community’s veterans.
“We at the Service Agency are excited that the operation and dispatch of the Veterans Van is going to be moved,” he said. “This new plan gives our veterans more flexible access to the van.”
The transfer of the van, which Tamagna said would be completed by this week, was one of 26 recommendations the TTF made. Out of the 26 recommendations, issued last month, seven will be underway or completed by Aug. 1, Tamagna said.
“We’re spending millions of dollars on this transportation system that’s not serving many individuals,” Odell said, explaining the need to re-examine the whole transit system. “This recommendation came as one of the 26, and we’re just checking the boxes as we’re moving along.”
The county is also looking to compile a list of veterans through the Return the F.A.V.O.R. (Find and Assist Veterans of Record) program.
A press conference will be held Friday officially announcing the Veteran’s Van initiative.
