Low-income disabled veterans, including homeless ones, will soon have unlimited rides on any of StarMetro’s fixed routes at no charge.
A one-year pilot program approved this week by city commissioners provides a smart card to any qualified low-income disabled veteran earning less than $17,505 per year or veterans pending disability income. They also must be enrolled with the Veterans Clinic.
The program is slated to begin within one to two weeks.
StarMetro director Ivan Maldonado plans to meet with local veteran groups next week to discuss getting the word out to eligible veterans. As many as 400 or more homeless veterans live in Tallahassee.
“A lot those of folks can’t afford transportation to get the VA clinics,” said Maldonado, an Army veteran who has a disability. “It will be really convenient for them to get around. I truly understand the need for transportation, especially for the homeless veterans, who have served our country and helped us maintain our freedom.”
StarMetro currently offers a discount program for veterans but riders must apply monthly. The new smart card will only require one application to receive free rides on the city’s 12 fixed routes throughout the city and parts of Leon County.
Similar programs are a growing trend statewide, with free ride programs provided in Miami-Dade and Polk counties. StarMetro will evaluate Tallahassee’s pilot program midstream and complete an annual evaluation after a year. Its estimated cost is $3,200 to administer the cards.
Mayor John Marks, a staunch veteran supporter, said the program is intended to help veterans get access to medical appointments but free bus rides also will allow them to seek job employments and educational offerings.
“It gives them the transportation they need in order to do that and it doesn’t take a lot of money,” Marks said. “I think this is just the beginning of what we can do for our veterans.”
