FAYETTEVILLE -- Veterans will soon be able to ride Ozark Regional Transit buses free on all fixed routes, the transit provider's board unanimously decided Thursday.
The service could be available as early as next week, according to Joel Gardner, executive director.
"This program is not just for the service-connected veterans we currently have, but it's for anybody that has a veteran's identification," Gardner said. "It's anywhere they want to go, if they need to go shopping, if they need to go visit, if they need to go to medical appointments, whatever they need to do, get on the bus."
Gardner said veterans service organizations are overwhelmed with transportation needs because they don't have enough vehicles or drivers.
"This is where we can step in. This is where we can provide support for our community," Gardner said. "We're going there anyway, and there's still room to put more people on that bus. It's not costing us any more."
Mike Lanier, a board member, said the move should help everybody concerned.
"I think it will help out our veterans and fill our buses," he said.
Wanda Shull, public affairs officer for Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, said they're thrilled with the new service.
"Anything that helps veterans access their care or jobs, anything like that, we fully support," Shull said. "ORT has been a supporter of ours and veterans for a long time."
The transit system is struggling to recover from a January fire that destroyed most of the bus fleet. Gardner said the system continues to make do with a mostly borrowed, multicolored fleet. Ridership is down for the year, and maintenance and repair costs for the loaner buses is over what was budgeted before the fire.
The investigation into the fire is close to done, but has not yet concluded, Gardner said. The makers of several compressed natural gas fuel tanks are still trying to determine why they launched up to three blocks away during the fire.
Insurance proceeds are being processed and staff members are looking at potential grants for bus replacement, Gardner said. Ozark Transit has received $724,000, but the Federal Transportation Administration says $114,000 of that goes to cover remaining federal interest in the vehicles, leaving $610,000 that can be used for local match money when the next federal grant arrives. Gardner said he expects it'll take about $1.7 million to replace the fleet with new buses.
ORT has also received $300,000 to replace a building that burned, but that may not cover the cost of replacement, he said.
NW News on 05/26/2017