A new partnership between the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) and the Lucas County Veterans Service Commission will make it easier for veterans to reach medical appointments.
TARTA has expanded the eligibility for its Reduced Fare Card under a pilot fare program to include veterans and active-duty military. The Veterans Service Commission will cover the rest of the cost of the fare for those frequently traveling to medical appointments, and veterans can pick up a Day Pass or a 31-Day Pass from the commission.
“When considering our new fare system, and in particular how we expanded the Reduced Fare Card program, we wanted to make it a point to recognize those who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we enjoy,” said TARTA CEO Laura Koprowski. “A medical appointment for someone who has served this country is the very definition of an essential destination, and being able to get our veterans where they’re going is why we’re so excited about this partnership.
She continued, “We’ve both put resources on the table, and partnerships like this one help us remove barriers for those who benefit the most from public transportation.”
Conversations to develop a partnership began early this summer, as TARTA was preparing to return to charging fares for the first time in more than two years. Both TARTA and the Veterans Service Commission expect it to be the first step in a long-term collaboration that benefits the many Lucas County residents who have served the country.
Lucas County Veterans Service Commission Deputy Director Jason Brown called the partnership a “win-win-win.”
“I think it’s a partnership that helps veterans, benefits TARTA and benefits the public,” Brown said. “Being able to work out this deal, it provides our veterans not just a one-trip pass, but a full day pass they can use, and access to that transportation is going to greatly improve their quality of life.”
