NCSL Mission to Serve Veterans Transportation Study 2013

A Mission to serveState Activities to Help Military Veterans Access Transportation

A Mission to serveState Activities to Help Military Veterans Access Transportation

By Jaime Rall and Alice Wheet

With Support from the Federal Transit Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor

William T. PoundExecutive Director

7700 East First PlaceDenver, Colorado 80230

(303) 364-7700

444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515Washington, D.C. 20001

(202) 624-5400www.ncsl.org

January 2013

http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=13586

The National Conference of State Legislatures is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories.

NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system. Its objectives are:

• Toimprovethequalityandeffectivenessofstatelegislatures.• Topromotepolicyinnovationandcommunicationamongstatelegislatures.• Toensurestatelegislaturesastrong,cohesivevoiceinthefederalsystem.

The Conference operates from offices in Denver, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.

Printed on recycled paper.© 2013 by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-58024-681-1

Cover photo (top left): Courtesy of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

National Conference of State Legislatures | iii

A Mission to Serve: State Activities to Help Military Veterans Access Transportation

ContentsAcknowledgments ..........................................................................................................................................iv

Acronyms and Abbreviations ..........................................................................................................................iv

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1

Veterans’ Transportation Needs .......................................................................................................................2

Public and Private Roles in Helping Veterans Access Transportation ................................................................3

Federal Roles ...............................................................................................................................................3

Regional, Local and Private Roles ................................................................................................................4

State Roles ...................................................................................................................................................4

State Interagency Coordination ...............................................................................................................4

State Funding for Veterans’ Transportation ..............................................................................................6

State Veterans’ Transportation Programs ..................................................................................................7

State Leadership for Veterans’ Transportation Activities ...........................................................................8

Exemptions from Transportation-Related Fees, Taxes, Fares and Tolls ....................................................11

Special Privileges ...................................................................................................................................14

Other State Roles ..................................................................................................................................14

Case Studies ..................................................................................................................................................16

Oregon ......................................................................................................................................................16

Texas .........................................................................................................................................................17

Wisconsin .................................................................................................................................................18

Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead .............................................................................................................19

State Profiles ..................................................................................................................................................23

Appendix A. NCSL Veterans’ Transportation Survey .....................................................................................57

Appendix B. NCSL Veterans’ Transportation Survey Respondents ................................................................60

Key Resources ...............................................................................................................................................63

Notes ............................................................................................................................................................64

Tables and Figures

Figures

1. State-Level Interagency Coordination Concerning Veterans’ Transportation ...............................................5

2. State Human Service Transportation Coordinating Councils ......................................................................5

3. State Funding for Veterans’ Transportation .................................................................................................7

4. 2011 and 2012 Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI) Grant Awards ...........8

5. Surviving Spouses Eligible for Certain Veterans’ Transportation Benefits ..................................................11

6. Vehicle Registration Fees or Taxes Waived or Reduced for Veterans ..........................................................12

7. License Plate Fees Waived or Reduced for Veterans ...................................................................................12

8. Vehicle Taxes Waived or Reduced for Veterans ..........................................................................................13

Table 1. Lessons Learned from NCSL Veterans’ Transportation Survey Respondents .....................................19

National Conference of State Legislatures | iv


Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank, first and foremost, the many people in the states and territories who are working tirelessly to ensure that military veterans have real transportation choices. Without their efforts—and their generosity in telling us about them in surveys and interviews—this report would not exist. Special thanks go to stakeholders in Oregon and Texas who reviewed early survey drafts and outlines, and to the former United We Ride Ambassadors, who for years were a constant source of encouragement and expert knowledge about coordinated human service transportation across the country.

We also are grateful to Angela Schreffler of the Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council (DRMAC) and other participants in the Colorado Veterans Transportation Task Force, who welcomed us to one of their meetings and illumi-nated some of the cultural and practical issues in building meaningful partnerships among transportation and veterans’ organizations. Thanks, too, go to NCSL staffer Claire Lewis and interns Simon Workman, Crystal Cook and Jocelyn Durkay for their assistance with project development, survey outreach, in-depth research and careful proofreading.

We were privileged to discuss our preliminary findings with the NCSL Task Force on Military and Veterans’ Affairs at NCSL’s Legislative Summit in August 2012. The task force exists to examine issues that affect military-community relations and the health and well-being of veterans, and has explored a broad range of state policy issues related to the ever-growing challenges facing today’s military personnel, veterans and their dependents. We thank them for their valu-able insights.

Once again, we extend our special gratitude to our partners at the Federal Transit Administration and the U.S. Depart-ment of Labor, whose support and vision made this report possible. We have been honored to work with them over the years on many collaborative efforts to improve personal mobility for all Americans, especially those who are most in need of transportation alternatives.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

DAV Disabled American VeteransDOT Department of TransportationFTA Federal Transit AdministrationMPO Metropolitan Planning OrganizationNCSL National Conference of State LegislaturesRPA Regional Planning AssociationVA U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VHA Veterans Health AdministrationVISN Veterans Integrated Service NetworkVSO Veterans Service Officer or Veterans Service OrganizationVTCLI Veterans Transportation and Community Living InitiativeVTS Veterans Transportation Service

National Conference of State Legislatures | 1


Introduction

Today, about 23 million Americans are military veterans, with tens of thousands more returning home as the American presenceinIraqandAfghanistanwindsdown.Manyofthesemenandwomenneedreliable,affordableandaccessibletransportation choices to get to work and school, visit family and friends, and receive medical care and community ser-vices. Indeed, without transportation, veterans may find it difficult to access the many benefits they have earned through their service or to meet the new challenges of returning to civilian life.

Veterans’uniqueanddiversetransportationneedsaremetthroughpublicagenciesateverylevelofgovernment,privatenonprofits, peer networks, families, volunteers and veterans service organizations. In particular, many states are now working to ensure that every veteran, regardless of his or her geographical location, physical ability, financial constraints or other circumstances, has a dignified and dedicated means of transportation for everyday and special travel.

In 2012, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)—under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the U.S. Department of Labor—embarked on an analysis of state efforts to enhance transportation mobility for veterans, based largely on in-depth, original survey research. NCSL surveyed hundreds of individuals in state legislatures, departments of transportation (DOTs), departments of veterans affairs, transit agencies, nonprofit organizations and other groups such as human service transportation coordinating councils (see Appendix A for the survey text and Appendix B for a full list of responding organizations). All information in this report taken from the survey data is identified as such in the text or cited in parentheses as (NCSL Survey, 2012). The survey findings were supplemented by statutory and legislative searches, interviews with key officials and other research.

The resulting report provides a synthesis of state veterans’ transportation efforts nationwide; in-depth case studies of efforts in Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin; and detailed profiles for all 50 states and other jurisdictions that responded to the survey (District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico). The focus throughout the report is on state-level activities—especially those created through statute, regulation or legislation—that facilitate access to trans-portation mobility for all military veterans, for all purposes.



Veterans’ Transportation Needs

Transportation matters, both for relatively young veterans who are returning from recent combat and for older veterans who served in past conflicts. For many veterans of all ages, transportation to work, school, medical appointments, shop-ping, and social events or other activities has become a hardship because of a disability, illness or financial constraints.

A host of societal and demographic changes also have led to specific mobility challenges for veterans. For example, about 40 percent of the nation’s veterans are 65 and older.1 Many World War II and Korean War veterans no longer drive, but are more likely to need ongoing health care as they age. At the same time, this trend is reducing available services because older veterans often are the core volunteers upon which many veterans’ transportation programs depend.2 Meanwhile, youngerveteransaresurvivingbattlefieldinjuriesthatwerefatalinpreviouswarsandthatrequirecontinuingtherapeuticcare. Today, the ratio of injuries to fatalities is 16 to 1—six times greater than during the Vietnam War.3 Of the 1.8 mil-lionpeoplewhoservedinIraqorAfghanistan,360,000havetraumaticbraininjuries,4 and 26 percent of those who have served since 2001 have a service-connected disability, compared with 14 percent of all veterans.5 In total, of America’s 23 million veterans, more than 3 million are receiving U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation.6

Veterans also are more at risk than the general population for unemployment, homelessness, post-traumatic stress dis-order, major depression and suicide.7 These men and women need access to jobs, training, social services, mental health care and social activities. A disproportionate number of them, however, live in rural areas where both community ser-vices and transportation are less available. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “Approximately 4 in 10 veterans live in rural areas where affordable transportation options are often limited, and where it’s necessary to travel great distances to receive medical care, reach employment centers, and access other services to which they are entitled.”8 A common misconception is that dedicated federal and volunteer programs meet all veterans’ transportation needs. Although valuable, these programs—discussed further in the next section—are limited and focus mainly on medical transportation. A need remains for more comprehensive mobility solutions.



Public and Private Roles in Helping Veterans Access Transportation

All levels of government, private nonprofits and other volunteer organizations have programs that help veterans meet their transportation needs. Federal programs typically set broad national policy and initiatives, while local entities are more apt to address specific service issues. This section provides a brief, context-setting review of federal, regional, local andprivateinvolvement,thenhighlightsuniquelystate-levelprogramsandinitiatives.

Federal Roles

The federal government provides dedicated but limited transportation assistance through the VA. This assistance is pri-marily focused on facilitating access to medical care. The VA operates the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)—an integrated health care system of 152 medical centers, 1,400 community-based outpatient clinics and other facilities—and provides transportation benefits to help veterans reach its facilities. As authorized in federal law,9 the VA’s Beneficiary TravelProgramcanreimbursequalifyingveteransformileagecosts,specialtransportationor,insomecases,taxisorhiredvehicles to VA or VA-authorized medical facilities. In 2008, the mileage reimbursement rate was increased from 11 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile10 to help offset veterans’ fuel costs.

OtherprogramsincludetheAutomobileandAdaptiveEquipmentforCertainDisabledVeteransandMembersoftheArmed Forces program, managed by the VA through the Veterans Benefits Administration.11 This program offers a one-timepaymenttowardpurchaseofapersonalvehicle, includingadaptiveequipmentorotherneedsrelatedtocertaindisabilities. The VA in some cases also can authorize special transportation assistance related to vocational rehabilitation and employment.12

In addition to these traditional roles, the federal government has recently initiated new activities to support transporta-tion for veterans. Since 2011, the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI)—a partnership among the U.S. departments of Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Labor, Defense, and Health and Human Services—has awarded $63.6 million in discretionary grants to projects in 38 states, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam that make it easier for veterans, service members and military families to learn about and arrange for local transportation.13 Many of the funded projects are either statewide or under state leadership (see page 8 and State Profiles for details). Several survey respondents noted that the VTCLI program has been the impetus for further conversations, planning and action among state agencies, transportation providers and other stakeholders. Thus, the initiative has provided not only needed funds, but also high-level leadership concerning veterans’ transportation needs.

Historically, the VA and its medical facilities have not engaged in providing direct transportation services, assuming instead that veterans who could not drive would get rides from their families or use existing resources such as veterans service organizations (VSOs) and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) transportation network (see also page 4). In 2010, however, the VA launched its Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) to enhance, coordinate and, in some cases, provide transportation to VA medical centers. The program is especially intended to benefit veterans who are visually impaired, older adults, immobilized due to disease or disability, or who live in rural areas. The VTS now consists of 45 pilot projects and will be fully established by 2015. So far, more than $16 million in VA funding has been dedicated to purchase new vehicles and also to improve the efficiency of existing resources.14

In May and June 2012, the Federal Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility and the U.S. Department of Defense sponsored a National Online Dialogue on Veterans’ Transportation to generate ideas about how to strengthen transpor-tation choices for veterans who have served their country.15 More than 450 stakeholders gathered to identify transporta-tion needs, challenges and opportunities facing veterans, wounded warriors, military service members and their families. The dialogue produced specific suggestions to improve veterans’ transportation.



“Volunteer drivers tend to be elderly retirees who are veterans themselves. Many available drivers are well into their 70s. Younger potential drivers are still employed outside the home and are not available for what is often [a full] day of volunteer driving services.”

—NCSL Survey Respondent

Regional, Local and Private Roles

Regional and local groups are primarily engaged in providing direct services and identifying needs in their areas. These groups, which can be either public or private, can include transit agencies; planning entities such as metropolitan plan-ning organizations (MPOs) and regional planning associations (RPAs); local veterans service organizations (VSOs); or private nonprofits such as the DAV and Wounded Warriors. Private for-profit organizations such as taxi and paratransit companies also may play a role in transporting veterans.

The DAV, along with other services, provides sick and disabled veterans with free rides to and from VA medical facilities, either in DAV-donated vans or volunteer-owned vehicles. The DAV is staffed by volunteers who also are veterans—a clear example of “veterans helping veterans.” The DAV website notes that the service came about to fill a need when the federal government made cuts to its transportation benefits.16 Since the DAV began its transportation efforts in 1987, the organization has donated 2,519 vehicles, transported more than 13 million veterans almost 500 million miles, and devoted more than 27 million volunteer hours in transporting veterans to VA medical facilities. The DAV, according to a recent Transportation Research Board analysis, “remains a key component of transportation services to veterans.”17

Some survey respondents—especially from veterans’ agencies—described the DAV as highly effective at meeting medical transportation needs of veter-ans in their areas. Respondents also, however, noted service gaps. The DAV provides transportation to VA facilities only, not to local hospitals or other destinations. In reality, veterans have many diverse transportation needs in addition to reaching a VA health care facility. Like anyone else, veterans also need transportation to access education, employment, recreation and com-munity services, and for many other purposes (see also page 2). In addition, the DAV has limited resources. It cannot cover every community and, in some places, the volunteer-based system cannot handle the sheer volume of travelers. Services also may operate on fixed routes, making for long travel times for travelers who are first on or last off the van. Further, it can be difficult not only to recruit volunteer drivers, but also to ensure the condition and safety of volunteers’ personal vehicles (NCSL Survey, 2012). Perhaps the DAV’s greatest limitation is that most of its vehicles are not wheelchair-accessible, and its volunteer drivers are not authorized to lift or provide medical services to any rider; thus, its services cannot be used by many veterans who have severe mobility impairments.18

State Roles

Federal and volunteer driver programs are vital in helping veterans get where they want to go, but they cannot meet all veterans’ transportation needs. States also play an essential role in facilitating veterans’ access to transportation mobility and are an integral part of the veterans’ transportation network. By providing needed leadership and programs, states can helpfillthegapsinveterans’transportationservices,andtheycandosoinawaythatmeetstheuniqueneedsofveteranswithin their borders. State legislatures, in particular, play a critical role; since 2009, more than 40 legislative measures related to transportation for veterans have been introduced in at least 18 states and Puerto Rico.19 The following section describes the many state-level activities that facilitate access to transportation mobility for all veterans, for all purposes. These include interagency coordination; funding for veterans’ transportation; veterans’ transportation programs; leader-ship for veterans’ transportation activities; exemptions from transportation-related fees, taxes, fares and tolls; and other roles.

State Interagency Coordination

A growing number of states are working to better coordinate diverse programs across different agencies to help reduce duplication and fragmentation, use public resources more efficiently, and make programs easier to use. States help veterans access transportation through three types of coordination: including veterans’ interests in transportation coor-dination efforts, including transportation stakeholders in coordination efforts related to veterans’ services, and creating interagency task forces to study veterans’ transportation specifically (Figure 1).



Figure 1. State-Level Interagency Coordination Concerning Veterans’ Transportation

*Massachusetts’ veterans’ coordinating council does not include the state transportation agency, but does include the DAV.

Source: NCSL, 2012.

Transportation Interagency Coordination Efforts that Include Veterans State-level interagency councils in 28 states and the Northern Mariana Islands work to better coordinate transportation services (Figure 2).20 Council membership can include a wide variety of state agencies as well as other transportation and human services stakeholders. As of November 2012, at least 12 councils—in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin—included veterans’ agencies or representatives (see State Profiles for details).21 Vermont’s Public Transit Advisory Council (PTAC) not only represents veterans’ interests among its formal membership, but also has formed a veterans’ transportation working group that includes members from organizations such as the DAV and MHISSION-VT, a jail diversion project for veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012). In addition, one of Idaho’s two councils may soon name the state Division of Veter-ans Services as an ex officio member (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Figure 2. State Human Service Transportation Coordinating Councils

Includes veterans in transportation coordination effortsIncludes transportation in veterans’ services coordination effortsHas had a standalone interagency task force on veterans’ transportationNo interagency veterans’ transportation coordination

Source: NCSL, 2012.

State coordinating council created by legislationState coordinating council created by executive order or other authorityVoluntary agency cooperation but no legal authorityNo coordinating council

District of ColumbiaGuam

Northern Mariana Islands

Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

American Samoa



Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

American Samoa



Veterans’ Services Interagency Coordination Efforts that Include TransportationSeveral states have interagency councils that coordinate the breadth of veterans’ services. Some of these councils—in-cluding those in Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada and Texas—do not include state transportation agencies in their requiredmembership(althoughtheMassachusettscouncildoesincludetheDAV).22 In contrast, the membership of the California Interagency Council on Veterans, created in 2011, includes the secretary of business, transportation and housing. New Jersey’s Council on Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs was expanded in 2005 to add 12 new members, including four legislators and the commissioner of transportation.23

In addition, as of November 2012, two pending legislative measures in New York would create a state interagency coor-dinating council for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Senate Bill 3594 and Assembly Bill 7260 would estab-lish a council of representatives from 10 state agencies, including the state Department of Transportation. Recognizing thatveterans—especiallythosewithservice-relateddisabilities—haveuniqueandcomplexneeds,thelegislationrequiresthe council to promote implementation of a comprehensive, statewide program of accessible, coordinated and special-ized services, including transportation options. In addition, the council would disseminate information about available services, conduct ongoing evaluations of needs and direct relevant complaints.

Interagency Task Forces on Veterans’ TransportationStand-alone interagency task forces have formed in Colorado, Massachusetts and Oregon to specifically address veter-ans’ transportation concerns. The Colorado Veterans Transportation Task Force was developed in November 2010 to improve communication between veterans’ and non-veterans’ groups, increase transportation access and reduce service duplication.24 Membership includes the state coordinating council; the Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council (DRMAC); the state departments of transportation, labor and employment, and vocational rehabilitation; county Vet-erans Service Officers; and nonprofit organizations.

The Massachusetts Veterans Transportation Coalition (MVTC) formed in 2010 as an ad hoc coalition of state agencies, regional transit authorities and veterans’ organizations (NCSL Survey, 2012). The MVTC has developed materials for veterans, including a comprehensive website that lists public and private transportation resources for veterans in the state (see State Profile for details).25

The Oregon Legislative Task Force on Veterans Transportation was cre-ated by Senate Bill 98 in 2009. Members were appointed from the state departments of transportation, employment, human services, military, and veterans’ affairs. Other stakeholders invited to participate included staff of congressional members from Oregon, state legislators, the DAV, transit agencies and other organizations.26 (See case study on page 16.)

State Funding for Veterans’ Transportation

A key state role is to provide needed funds for veterans’ transportation. At least 13 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands have dedicated special funds or trust funds for veterans’ services that can be used for transportation purposes (Figure 3; see State Profiles for details). Most of these funds can be used for various veterans’ services, including transportation. In contrast, Idaho’s Veterans Transportation Fund exists solely to give vouchers to veterans in wheelchairs for transportation to medical appointments.27 Similarly, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Veterans Emergency Transportation Fund—appropriated $50,000 each year—pays for veterans’ transportation to VA hospitals for emergency treatment.28

In addition, at least 18 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands fund veterans’ transportation programs through other (or unknown) means such as legislative appropriations or departmental budgets (also see Figure 3 and State Pro-files).29 In 2011, for example, the North Dakota legislature provided $50,000 to purchase vans to transport veterans or their dependents.30 Texas not only has a special fund that awards grants to organizations that serve veterans, but also has a program that offers temporary transportation assistance to veterans to help them obtain or retain employment. Eligible uses include gas cards and bus vouchers. The U.S. Virgin Islands can pay up to $500 for a veteran’s transportation to school for career and technical or academic training.31

“If organizations partner on their trans-portation needs and services, then we can ensure that as many veterans as pos-sible are able to get the rides they need.”




Figure 3. State Funding for Veterans’ Transportation

*No data available for American Samoa or Guam.

Source: NCSL, 2012.

State Veterans’ Transportation Programs

In many states, local transit agencies or nonprofits such as the DAV provide most of the actual transportation used by veterans. Such programs are limited, however, and may not be able to provide all services veterans may need. Some states have taken a direct role in providing transportation to veterans (see State Profiles for details).

• Michigan, Minnesota and Oklahoma provide transportation for certain trips to or from state veterans’ homes.32

• The Maryland Commitment to Veterans Program—within the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH)—contracts with local transportation providers to provide curb-to-curb services for veterans who have no other way to get to behavioral health appointments. Coordinators within DHMH schedule trips and coordi-nate services (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• A state program in New Jersey, funded by the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA), has coordinators in each county who arrange free rides for veterans to medical appointments, the VA regional office and local veterans service offices in most counties. According to DMAVA, the program “originated due to the distance many N.J. veterans had to travel to get to a VA facility for medical care.”33

• The New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services receives about $125,000 each year to provide transportation services to veterans and their families under a program in which volunteer drivers use their personal vehicles. The program, which serves veterans in rural areas and veterans’ family members who are not otherwise served by VA transportation programs, shares the VA’s dispatch system in order to better determine which program can best serve each veteran who calls (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• North Dakota provides five vans on scheduled routes to the VA hospital in Fargo. The free service is paid for in part by the state Veterans’ Postwar Trust Fund.34

• The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is working with federal and state veterans’ agencies to help veterans access health care by providing wheelchair-accessible vehicles to VA facilities and counties. Local transit agencies train volunteer drivers, and ODOT conducts preventive maintenance on the vehicles for one year (NCSL Survey, 2012; see case study on page 16 and State Profile).

• West Virginia statelawrequiresthedirectorofthestateDepartmentofVeteransAssistancetoprovidevolunteersto transport veterans to veterans’ hospitals from their homes or from local veterans’ affairs offices. Volunteers are to be paid a per diem of $75 for expenses. The state’s FY 2013 budget bill allocated $625,000 to the department for veterans’ transportation.35

Special or trust funds support veterans’ transportationOther or unknown means of funding veterans’ transportation

District of ColumbiaGuam*


Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

American Samoa*



State Leadership for Veterans’ Transportation Activities

Survey data indicated several other areas where states are leading the way to help veterans access transportation. Because many of these efforts are in their infancy, their effectiveness is not yet known. However, survey respondents noted the importance of these first steps in improving communication and collaboration, which may eventually lead to more transportation options for veterans in their communities (see also pages 19 and 20).

Coordinating Federally Funded ProjectsSome states have taken the lead in coordinating applications for federal funding (Figure 4). To date, the federal Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI) has awarded grants to projects in 13 states, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands that will coordinate transportation statewide to make projects more efficient and broaden their scope. Some of these projects will create a single phone number and website to allow any veteran in the state to find transportation choices with one call or one click. Others bring together several smaller projects to achieve statewide coverage. In 2011 and 2012, for example, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Veterans Trans-portation Task Force coordinated four sub-grantees’ applications. The resulting grant awards will help veterans schedule rides across multiple providers, support complementary one-call/one-click centers in various regions, and coordinate local and statewide resources to improve information about transportation options for veterans. CDOT also was the designated recipient for all grants.36

In addition, 11 states were awarded funds for a local or regional project under state leadership. In Idaho, Illinois, Mary-land, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Washington, the state DOT or transit authority was the designated recipient of funds for at least one regional or local project.37 The Washington State Depart-ment of Transportation (WSDOT) coordinated and submitted VTCLI applications on behalf of area nonprofits in both 2011 and 2012. WSDOT’s efforts to coordinate VTCLI funds have reportedly been effective in making all grantees aware of projects in other areas of the state. WSDOT also has created a forum in which grantees are “encouraged (and ex-pected) to work together to minimize overlap of services among veterans in multiple areas throughout the state” (NCSL Survey, 2012). In addition, New Mexico’s DOT and Department of Veterans’ Services filed a joint application,38 and in Massachusetts, the statewide MVTC supported a joint VTCLI application in 2011 that was awarded to the Montachu-sett Regional Transit Authority and its partners (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Figure 4. 2011 and 2012 Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI) Grant Awards

Source: Federal Transit Administration, 2011 and 2012.

Statewide projects

State leadership for local/regional project

Local/regional projects only

No VTCLI award



Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

American Samoa



Encouraging or Requiring Veteran Participation in Transportation Planning

Transportation planning occurs at all levels of government. States, regions and localities determine transportation investment priorities through struc-tured planning processes that involve various stakeholders in identifying, selecting and approving projects. These plans must comply with federal and staterequirements.Inaddition,anyagencythatwishestobeeligibleforcertain FTA grant funding must work with other public, private and non-profit transportation and human services providers to develop a separate “locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transporta-tion plan.”39 This plan must not only identify the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults and people with low incomes, but also strategies and services to meet those needs. Some states serve as a “pass-through” to administer FTA funds and implement other rules and requirements. Atleast10statesencourageorrequireinclusionofveterans’interests in transportation planning activities (see State Profiles for details); all details below are from the 2012 NCSL survey data.

• Florida requireseachcounty’s localcoordinatingboardto includeaveterans’ representative.Theseboardsworkwith planning agencies and transportation coordinators to develop service plans for transportation disadvantaged populations.40

• Althoughnotrequired,theIllinois and Louisiana departments of transportation formally invite veterans’ transpor-tation providers to participate in ongoing regional coordination activities.

• The Kansas Department of Transportation has begun to seek input from veterans’ organizations. Specific efforts include studies for intercity bus service planning and rural regional public transportation planning.

• Beginning in FY 2013, the KentuckyTransportationCabinetwillrequireinclusionofveterans’groupsinthelocalcoordinated planning process.

• The Maryland Department of Transportation plans to emphasize outreach to veterans’ groups in its next solicitation for FTA grant applications. It also encourages veterans’ organizations to participate on regional coordinating bodies.

• Montana’s Department of Transportation and Department of Health and Human Services plan to have veteran rep-resentation on all local transit advisory committees. The two agencies have called for regional coordination meetings across the state after several statewide transit summits in which the DAV participated. They also are working closely with the federal VA’s Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) and encouraging its inclusion in local and regional coordination efforts.

• The OhioDepartmentofTransportationinvitestheDepartmentofVeteransServicestoquarterlymobilitymanagerroundtables and encourages mobility managers to include county-level veteran services coordinators in regional coordination planning activities.

• As of November 2012, the Washington Department of Transportation was conducting the state’s first statewide human service transportation coordinated plan. The effort will specifically include consideration of veterans’ transportation needs.

• The West Virginia Department of Transportation invites the federal VA to participate in its coordination planning activities.

“Veteran involvement is integral to good transportation planning. With-out [it], there is a risk of making poor decisions, or decisions that have unin-tended negative consequences … Vet-eran involvement should be more than an agency requirement and more than a means of fulfilling a statutory obliga-tion; meaningful veteran participation is central to ensuring the concerns … [of veterans] and their dependents are iden-tified and addressed in … the policies, programs and projects being proposed in their communities.”


“[I]t is always good practice to listen to suggestions from individuals [who] use the services provided, along with the in-dividuals and organizations directly pro-viding these services.”




Transportation Studies and Reports Involving VeteransSeveral states have initiated studies to assess and identify veterans’ transportation needs.

• North Dakota’s Department of Transportation and Department of Veterans Affairs are working together on a trans-portation coordination pilot project focused on veterans. Participants include state and county veterans’ representa-tives as well as public and private transportation providers (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• The Ohio Department of Transportation is conducting the “Ohio Mobility Study” on resources, potential partici-pants and recommendations for a state-level human service transportation coordinating council. The state Depart-ment of Veterans Services was invited to and attended a recent “Mobility Summit” to offer input before the study’s recommendations were finalized (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• The Oregon Department of Transportation is conducting a statewide study of transportation coordination activities and potential measurable outcomes. The state Department of Veterans’ Affairs is on the study’s steering committee (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• The Center for Rural Pennsylvania (a bicameral, bipartisan legislative agency) released a study in January 2012 that identified the medical transportation needs of veterans in rural areas of the state and offered recommendations.41

Building Partnerships

The first step toward coordination is to form relationships among stake-holders. Many states have provided strong leadership to encourage mean-ingful partnerships among transportation and veterans’ organizations—across public and private sectors and at all levels of government.

• The Colorado Veterans Transportation Task Force, established in 2010, works to increase transportation options for veterans in the state by first improving communication between veterans’ and non-veterans’ groups.42 The task force has reportedly been effective in facilitating conversations between transit agencies and vet-erans’ organizations (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking a representative from the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs to be a point of contact for transportation coordinators throughout the state. The intent is to bridge a communica-tion gap between transportation coordinators and veterans’ organizations (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• The representative of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs who serves on the state coordinating council is invited to participate in the state Department of Transportation’s biannual review of applications for FTA grants, to ensure that veterans’ transportation needs are considered in the selec-tion process (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• Members of the Massachusetts Veterans Transportation Coalition have met with two VA hospitals to identify opportunities for better collaboration and coordination with local transportation providers. The coalition also has made presentations at regional and statewide meetings of veterans service officers (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• Also in Massachusetts, the state’s Human Services Transportation (HST) Office and Department of Veterans Services (DVS) are helping to lead a transportation initiative under the federal VA’s New England Healthcare System. The six-state system’s strategic plan includes improving veterans’ medical transportation through integration of the region’s eight large VA medical centers into a single network and better coordination with transportation providers and state agencies. Among other activities, HST and DVS are working with regional and local providers across New England to develop standardized performance measures (NCSL Survey, 2012).43

“[C]oordination is sometimes as simple as inviting a group of organizations that serve special needs populations to the table.”


“Partnerships between many diverse or-ganizations are critical for facilitating access to transportation options for vet-erans, their families and spouses.”




• In Mississippi and Virginia, state-level transportation and veterans’ agencies have started to actively work together concerning veterans’ transportation options (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has worked to develop relationships with other state agencies, including the state Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Human Services. Under NDDOT leadership, stakeholders—including state and county veterans’ representatives and public and private transportation service providers—have come together to implement a transportation coordination pilot project that focuses on veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• Oregon House Bill 2403, enacted by the legislature in 2011, directs various state agencies—including the Depart-ment of Transportation—to partner with the Oregon Military Department to provide reintegration services for veterans.

• The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has provided information to regional transportation planning agencies about veterans service officers in each of the state’s 254 counties. TxDOT also hosted a conference in April 2012 that featured a panel discussion with the federal VA and transportation providers from across the state about best practices in serving veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• To promote ongoing dialogue, starting in early 2012, the Washington State Department of Transportation began facilitating monthly statewide meetings of a Veterans Transportation Steering Committee. The committee discusses VTCLI project development and implementation, including broader issues and challenges related to veterans’ trans-portation. Participants include representatives from the state Department of Veterans Affairs, the federal VA, trans-portation providers, nonprofit organizations and human services agencies (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Exemptions from Transportation-Related Fees, Taxes, Fares and Tolls

Many states waive or reduce certain vehicle-related fees and taxes for eligible veterans. These include driver’s license fees; vehicle registration charges; vehicle taxes; fees for special veterans’ license plates; and fees for disability placards. Some statesalsoensurefreeorreducedtransitfaresorwaivetolls.Eligibilityrulesvary,butmayincludeveteranswithqualify-ing disabilities, Congressional Medal of Honor recipients or former prisoners of war. In at least 17 states, a surviving spouse who has not remarried can receive one or more of these veterans’ benefits (Figure 5); Nevada allows transfer of a tax exemption to a spouse only during the veteran’s lifetime. Such exemptions typically are authorized in state law (see State Profiles for more details and statutory citations).

Figure 5. Surviving Spouses Eligible for Certain Veterans’ Transportation Benefits

*No data available for American Samoa, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Source: NCSL, 2012.

Surviving spouses eligible forcertain veterans’ benefits related to transportation fees or taxes



Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands*

American Samoa*



Driver’s License FeesAt least seven states—Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Texas—exempt certain veterans from paying a driver’s license fee. In addition, Kentucky considered but did not enact legislation in 2012 to exempt driver’s licenses and identification cards with a veterans’ designation from initial and renewal fees.44

Vehicle Registration Fees or TaxesAt least 32 states waive or reduce vehicle registration fees or taxes for certain veterans (Figure 6). Utah state law also ex-empts Purple Heart recipients from fees for driver education and uninsured motorist identification, as well as from local option highway construction and transportation corridor preservation fees that apply at the time of vehicle registration.

Figure 6. Vehicle Registration Fees or Taxes Waived or Reduced for Veterans


Source: NCSL, 2012.

License Plate and Disability Placard FeesAt least 30 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands issue specialty license plates to veterans for a reduced or no fee (Figure 7).45 Most of these plates have a special distinction such as “disabled veteran” or “Congressional Medal of Honor,” and ap-plicants must meet specific eligibility criteria. In Florida, veterans pay a fee but not the applicable taxes for certain license plates.Florida,LouisianaandMainealsoofferdisabilityplacardstoqualifyingveteransatareducedornocharge.46

Figure 7. License Plate Fees Waived or Reduced for Veterans

*No data available for American Samoa or Guam.

Source: NCSL, 2012.

Waives or reduces vehicle registration fees or taxes for elegible veterans

Waives or reduces license plate fees for elegible veterans



Puerto Rico


American Samoa*



Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

American Samoa*



Vehicle TaxesAt least 17 states waive or reduce one or more vehicle taxes for eligible veterans (Figure 8). North Carolina law exempts certain veteran-owned vehicles from taxation. Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Vermont and Washington offer veterans exemptions from state ad valorem, sales or excise taxes on vehicles. Arkansas, Connecticut and New Mexico waive or reduce vehicle property taxes, and Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee waive a vehicle privilege tax. In Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana and Ohio, certain veterans are exempt from paying vehicle license taxes. California waives its vehicle license fee, counted here because it was established in 1935 specifically in lieu of a property tax on vehicles.47

Figure 8. Vehicle Taxes Waived or Reduced for Veterans


Source: NCSL, 2012.

Transit FaresAt least six states and Puerto Rico have encouraged free or reduced public transit fares for veterans. In Alaska, Illinois, Washington and Puerto Rico, state agencies themselves provide discounted or free transit passes. In California and Min-nesota,statelawrequiresselectedtransitagenciestoprovidereducedorfreefarestoveteranswithqualifyingdisabilities.Idahoallows,butdoesnotrequire,freetransitforcertainveterans.Inaddition,asofNovember2012,billspendingin the Massachusetts and New York legislatures would authorize free or reduced transit fares for veterans under certain circumstances. South Carolina’s legislature also considered, but did not enact, a related bill in its 2012 session.48

TollsFlorida, New York and Puerto Rico have waived tolls for some veterans. Florida law allows veterans who have disabili-ties that impair their ability to deposit coins in toll baskets to pass free through all toll gates. In New York, veterans withqualifyingdisabilitiescanenrollintheNewYorkThruwayAuthority’sDisabledVeteranNon-RevenueE-ZPassprogram. The program allows free, unlimited travel on the Thruway system when the veteran is traveling in an eligible vehicle.49 As a result of Senate Bill 1639, enacted in 2011, Puerto Rico exempts Purple Heart recipients from paying highwaytollsonPurpleHeartDay,August7.Inaddition,Texaslawallows,butdoesnotrequire,tollentitiestooffertolldiscounts to certain veterans, and allows the Legislature to defray the cost.50 As of November 2012, the New Jersey and NewYorklegislaturesalsowereconsideringrelevantbills.NewJersey’sAssemblyBill774wouldwaiveE-ZPassservicecharges for veterans,51 and New York’s Assembly Bill 6006 would eliminate tolls on the New York State Thruway for vehicles transporting veterans to VA hospitals and other veterans’ health care facilities.

Waives or reduces vehicle taxes for elegible veterans



Puerto Rico


American Samoa*



Special Privileges

Severalstatesofferotherspecialprivilegestoqualifyingveteransortovehiclesdisplayingcertainveterans’specialtyli-cense plates.

Parking PrivilegesAt least 14 states—Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin—provide certain veterans with special parking privi-leges.52 In some cases, parking privileges for people who have disability placards are made available to veterans who otherwisemightnotqualify.Inothercases,vehiclesdisplayingselectveterans’specialtylicenseplatesaregivenprivilegessuch as extended time limits on parking meters. These privileges typically apply only when the vehicles are being used by,oraretransporting,thequalifyingveteran.

Other PrivilegesIn Missouri, veterans with proof of permanent disability from the VA do not have to submit a new physician’s statement when renewing disabled license plates or placards.53 Similarly, in Texas, a person with disabled veteran specialty license platescanreceiveadisabledparkingplacardwithoutadditionaldocumentation.Georgiastatestatuterequiresthat,uponrequest,employeesatafull-service/self-servicegasstationmustdispensefuelfromtheself-servicepumpintovehicleswith disabled veteran license tags, at the self-service price.54

Other State Roles

States have demonstrated marked creativity and variety in their policies and programs that address veterans’ transporta-tion needs. Additional state innovations include the following.

• Hawaii and Oregon have considered bringing health care to veterans, rather than bringing veterans to health care, thereby reducing the need to arrange public or private transportation to needed services. Hawaii’s Office of Veterans’ Servicesoffersauniqueprogramthatprovidesat-homecounselingforveterans(NCSLSurvey,2012).Initsfinalre-port to the legislature, the Oregon Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation recommended that the federal VA’s Veterans Health Administration drastically expand its efforts to deliver health services through community-based outpatient clinics, mobile clinics and technology to reduce veterans’ travel needs.55

• Illinois’ first-of-its-kind Veterans Care Program is intended to provide comprehensive, affordable health care to uninsured Illinois veterans. Covered services include emergency medical transportation.56

• New Yorklegislationenactedin2011requiresthestateDivisionofMilitaryandNavalAffairs(DMNA)andDivi-sion of Veterans Affairs to inform returning combat veterans about accident prevention courses that are approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles.57 According to a DMNA resource, “… the risk of death from a motor vehicle traffic accident is much higher during the first five years after deployment to a combat zone… [F]or the veterans of deploymentstoIraqandAfghanistantheriskofapost-deploymentmotorvehicleaccidentisseventy-fivepercentgreater than for the rest of the population…”58Completionofacoursecanqualifyadriverforlowermotorvehicleinsurance premiums and reduced points related to traffic tickets.

• In 2009, the Ohiolegislatureconsidered,butdidnotenact,HouseBill151,whichwouldhaverequiredthestateDepartment of Transportation to install signs on state highways to indicate the location of VA medical facilities.

• Oregon’slegislatureadoptedHouseJointMemorial6in2011,urgingCongresstorequirethefederalVAtopayveterans’ transportation costs when a veteran who first seeks emergency care at a non-VA hospital is transported to a VA facility.



• As of November 2012, the Rhode Island legislature was considering House Bill 7190, which would create a coor-dinator position within the state Division of Veterans Affairs to help veterans with transportation to the VA hospital in Providence.

• Under Puerto Rico law, a centralized Veterans Advocate’s Office—attached to the office of the governor—is respon-sible for handling the problems, needs and claims of Puerto Rican veterans in several areas, including transporta-tion.59 In 2012, adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 1013 reassigned $25,000 to the Veterans Advocate’s Office to provide matching funds to purchase buses for veterans’ transportation.



Case Studies

This section offers in-depth case studies of three states to highlight statewide initiatives that are improving access to transportation for veterans across the nation. Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin were selected for further analysis to demon-strate the variety of state roles in coordinating and facilitating transportation for veterans, as well as diversity in location, size, population and political context.

Oregon

Oregon’suniqueapproachtocoordinatingtransportationservicesforveteransischaracterizedbystateleadershipandcollaboration, facilitated by a legislatively formed task force. The Governor’s Task Force on Veterans’ Services, created in 2008, found that a lack of transportation to VA medical appointments was a major barrier for veterans to receive their benefits, and recommended that a special task force be initiated to focus on veterans’ transportation. The legislature enacted Senate Bill 98 in 2009, which created the Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation. The task force included members from the departments of transportation, employment, human services, military and veterans’ affairs. Other stakeholders invited to participate included state legislators, staff of congressional members from Oregon, the DAV, transit agencies and other organizations.60 Survey respondents stressed the importance of having the right people and organizations represented in the task force; it reportedly took time to identify the correct stakeholders in the early stages, but was well worth the effort when progress was made (NCSL Survey, 2012).

The task force met monthly and submitted its final report to the legislature in October 2010. The report included 17 findings and 15 recommendations that mainly addressed veterans who would forego their earned VA health benefits without transportation to medical appointments. Identified challenges included a lack of funds for vehicle operating expenses, mobility management activities and outreach to veterans. The task force found that transit services were avail-able to veterans in nearly every county, but veterans’ organizations were not always aware of them—even though they had been approached to participate in local transportation planning. The report offered creative suggestions for leverag-ing existing resources and financing an efficient medical transportation system for veterans with existing federal funds. 61

Although Oregon has no formal human service transportation coordinating council, survey respondents reported that the task force was influential in developing relationships among state agencies that may help address veterans’ transpor-tation needs. For example, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is now conducting a statewide study of coordination activities and measurable outcomes; the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) serves on the study’s steering committee. The task force also effectively attracted the attention of state leaders to veterans’ transportation is-sues. One result is that the DVA has now encouraged regional veterans’ organizations to participate in local coordinated transportation planning, with better results than earlier invitations from local agencies (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Oregon has taken strides to remedy an issue identified by the task force: the lack of wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the DAV volunteer transportation network. The ODOT Public Transit Division now is working with both federal and state veterans’ agencies to provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles to VA facilities and counties. Local transit agencies train volunteer drivers, and ODOT conducts preventive maintenance on the vehicles for one year so facilities have time to include vehicle operating costs in their budgets. The first wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the VA transportation fleet, they will provide a new level of effective service for medical transportation. The work of the task force on this issue also contributed to a legislative appropriation of approximately $100,000 in the 2011−13 state budget for one-time assis-tance to wheelchair-bound veterans who need medical transportation. The funds, however, eventually were withdrawn due to budget constraints (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Other activities in Oregon include efforts funded by both the state and federal governments to improve transportation for veterans through regional coordination networks. Eight existing transportation brokerages and call centers are being expanded to include resources for veterans such as trip planning and information and referral services. These projects were funded by mobility management grants through ODOT and the federal VTCLI program (NCSL Survey, 2012; see also page 3).



Texas

The Texas approach to veterans’ transportation has been to provide strong state leadership to strengthen local efforts. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) leads the state’s regional coordinated transportation planning pro-cess, in which it encourages inclusion of veterans’ interests. Meanwhile, other state agencies administer state funds to local and nonprofit transportation providers, with active involvement from the Legislature.

TxDOT has worked to build partnerships among transportation agencies and veterans’ organizations at all levels of gov-ernment, not only to raise awareness about veterans’ transportation issues, but also to encourage participation of veterans and their families in transportation planning. Texas has no state-level human service transportation coordinating coun-cil, but TxDOT’s Public Transportation Division provides funding and technical assistance to regional coordination efforts, including offering valuable information about veterans’ transportation concerns. For example, TxDOT hosted a conference in April 2012 that featured a panel discussion with the federal VA and transportation providers from across the state about best practices in serving veterans. TxDOT also provided information to regional transportation planning agencies about veterans service officers in each of the state’s 254 counties, and has given other customized technical as-sistance to local entities that seek to better serve veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Many efforts are under way on the local and regional levels, likely as a result of the statewide initiatives. TxDOT received a federal VTCLI grant award in 2012 of $231,000 to create a one-call/one-click center for veterans in a 14-county area in East Texas. The East Texas planning region also hosted a “basic training” day to familiarize veterans with public transit options both within and outside the region. Some regions are addressing veterans’ transportation in needs assessments and regional plans, and veterans’ organizations participate on some regional steering committees. In many of the rural planning regions, transportation providers have contracted with VA medical facilities to coordinate transportation ser-vices where service gaps once existed. Survey respondents noted that ridership on these rural routes seems to be increas-ing (NCSL Survey, 2012).

The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) provides administrative support to the Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services (TCCVS), established by the Legislature in 2011. The TCCVS aims to bring together state agencies that pro-vide direct services to veterans and their families in order to most effectively and efficiently coordinate their efforts. It also makes biennial reports to the Legislature detailing its work and any recommendations.62 TxDOT is not represented on the council, according to survey respondents, because transportation resources and programs are not generally provided directly to veterans or their families at the state level. The council has explored transportation, but mainly in relation to other issues such as access to health care or housing. The council also has worked to identify the efforts of local nonprofit or service organizations to enhance transportation options for veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

The TVC also administers the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA). The fund awards grants to eligible charitable orga-nizations, local government agencies and veterans service organizations that provide direct assistance—including trans-portation services—to Texas veterans and their families.63 FVA is primarily funded by Veterans Cash scratch-off lottery tickets, a program created by the Legislature in 2009 to fund veterans’ programs; the proceeds provide more than $7 mil-lion a year, although recent reports indicate waning sales.64 Other revenue sources include donations, vehicle registration fees, the State Employee Charitable Campaign and the Housing Trust Fund.65 Since 2009, the TVC has awarded nearly $700,000 from the FVA to nonprofit organizations and counties to provide transportation assistance to veterans and their families. This commitment to funding local services reflects the Texas approach, as stated by a survey respondent, that “…[veterans’] transportation is best coordinated at the local level by municipal and county level governments as well as nonprofit and service organizations … Providing a revenue stream for the [FVA] has been very effective in allowing local programs to grow and thrive.” The respondent further called the FVA “the most significant activity in which the [TVC] participates directly regarding the transportation of veterans” (NCSL Survey, 2012).

In addition, the TVC also manages the state Transportation Support Services program, which provides temporary trans-portation assistance directly to veterans to help them obtain or retain employment. Eligible uses include gas cards, bus vouchers and other appropriate pre-purchase transportation costs.66



Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s efforts to facilitate veterans’ transportation are distinguished by ongoing transportation coordination among state, local and tribal agencies that includes veterans’ interests as well as substantial state funding for services in under-served areas.

The state human service transportation coordinating council, known as the Wisconsin Interagency Council on Trans-portation Coordination (ICTC), was authorized by a governor’s initiative in 2005. Its members include representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), along with the state departments of transportation, health services and workforce development and the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.67 Wisconsin’s coordina-tion model focuses on strengthening the ICTC as the lead entity for statewide coordination, while also establishing re-gional coordination councils and providing incentives for local coordinating efforts and inter-council cooperation.68 The ICTC’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) advises the council on statewide transportation needs and coordination opportunities and helps educate the public. SAC membership includes representatives of transportation users, advocacy organizations, tribes, service providers and other partners, including the County Veterans Service Officers Association and the DAV of Wisconsin.69

Wisconsin also provides substantial state funding for veterans’ transportation. The WDVA operates the Veterans Trust Fund, the state’s primary means of supporting veterans’ services, including transportation. Each year, $100,000 from the fund is allocated to the DAV for transporting veterans to medical facilities;70 the DAV operates 36 vans that serve more than 23,000 veterans annually. To help counties not served by the DAV, the WDVA awards grants from the fund to develop, maintain and expand transportation services for veterans. These “County Transportation Services Grants,” intended to be a partial reimbursement of county expenses, may be used for capital and operating expenses or to support multi-county cooperative transportation services.71 Survey respondents noted that these grants have worked well to meet veterans’ transportation needs in underserved areas. In the FY 2011−13 state budget, the Legislature approved a one-time transfer of $5 million from the general fund to keep the Veterans Trust Fund solvent—the first such transfer since 1988 and the 10th since the fund’s origin in 1961.72

The WDVA also helps veterans through the Assistance to Needy Veterans grant program. The program provides up to $7,500 each to veterans and their families who are in financial need and have exhausted all other sources of aid.73 For familiesanddependents,eligible“economicemergencies”toqualifyfortheprogramincludefailureofthesolemeansoftransportation.74 Funds can be used for various purposes, including essential travel.75

In addition, the long-standing Wisconsin Council on Veterans Programs advises the Board of Veterans Affairs and the WDVA on solutions and policy alternatives relating to veterans’ problems. Members include more than 25 veterans’ organizations, including the DAV, which provides transportation services. The council must submit a biennial report to the Legislature that summarizes activities and membership of the organizations on the council.76 It is unknown, however, whether the council has addressed transportation issues (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead

States have made considerable progress in recent years to help veterans gain access to transportation. Challenges remain, however, especially as the veteran population continues to grow. How each state meets these challenges will be shaped by its model of coordination and its approach to service delivery and providing veterans’ benefits. The following section explores what survey respondents had to say about successes, challenges and next steps in ensuring transportation for veterans.

Successes

When asked what had worked well in each state, survey respondents rarely were able to provide data showing measur-ably increased transportation for veterans. Respondents instead generally referred to interagency coordination efforts, reflecting a general notion that simple steps toward coordination—such as developing lines of communication between agencies—can not only improve services, but are beneficial in their own right. Table 1 outlines lessons learned from sur-vey respondents about interagency coordination efforts as well as other tips about facilitating transportation for veterans.

Task Forces and Coordinating Councils

Stakeholders noted that interagency task forces and coordinating councils have been powerful tools to build partnerships that could enhance trans-portation options for veterans. Oregon’s time-limited task force, for exam-ple, was influential in developing relationships between state agencies that

Table 1. Lessons Learned from NCSL Veterans’ Transportation Survey Respondents

What to Do Target veterans in outreach materials, and say “veteran” whenever possible. Veterans’ transportation needs may not differ from those of other targeted populations, but it helps to use language that veterans’ groups are more likely to recognize. Identify veterans specifically when collecting ridership data. Baseline data is strongly needed in order to evaluate efforts. Work hard to understand the cultures of organizations you work with. Learn their acronyms and terms, familiarize yourself with their processes and get to know their missions. Have the right people at the table. Include those who can help spread the word. It may take extra effort to identify those people. You may need to start small, then build up from there. Involve people at the community or “grassroots” level, where they are most directly affected by transpor-tation decisions and want to see a change. If you find a general mistrust of government in your state, it may work better to use nonprofit groups or local agencies rather than a state agency to lead coordination and outreach efforts. In some contexts, it may help to have the state veterans’ agency contact regional and local veterans’ of-fices to encourage their involvement in transportation planning. Keep peer-to-peer resources in mind. Veterans are a tight-knit group.What Not to Do When reaching out to other organizations or agencies, don’t just send a written invitation. A face is needed, as well as some persistence in identifying the correct parties. Don’t hesitate to communicate with other agencies. You may need each other to be successful. Focus on solutions. Talking only about failed past strategies is not very helpful. Don’t ask for more money without showing the benefits of your services. Don’t make assumptions that others know about your agency and the services you provide. Don’t assume that public transportation is insufficient to provide for veterans’ specialized transportation needs.

Source: NCSL Survey, 2012.

“Coordination and communication have been the foundation to build upon for expanding and enhancing transporta-tion mobility options for veterans, their families and spouses.”




already are being used to address veterans’ transportation needs (see case study on page 16). More permanent, formally structured councils—even in states where veterans have not yet been included—also were identified as potential assets. “Development of the state coordinating council and regional coordinating councils,” said one respondent, “… has set a platform for the development of coordinated transportation services [that] could benefit veterans.”

Other Partnerships

Other types of partnerships among diverse organizations—regardless of origin or formality—were identified throughout the surveys as critical to facilitating access to transportation options for veterans and their families. Many respondents mentioned partnerships that had grown from the federal VTCLI grant program, which provided incentives for veterans’ and transportation agencies to work together. State leadership around relationship-building and involving veterans in transportation planning also have been helpful (see examples on pages 9 to 11). Success with engaging veterans in trans-portation efforts, however, has varied from state to state.

Challenges

Survey respondents identified a wide variety of challenges and barriers to effectively facilitating transportation for vet-erans.

Insufficient Data

One significant challenge in providing transportation for veterans is a lack ofrealdatathatquantifieslocalveterans’needs,baselinelevelsofserviceorsubsequentimprovements.Althoughsomestateshavesuccessfullycarriedout needs assessments or recorded the number of trips taken with volunteer drivers, these figures often are too limited to determine whether veterans’ access to transportation has improved. States that have not yet begun a statewide veterans’ transportation project can work to conduct meaningful needs assessments and establish baseline data against which they can measure their progress. Otherwise, states cannot know if their efforts are really working. States also can identify veterans as a specific type of transportation user when gathering ridership data on both fixed-route and demand-response paratransit services. Good data can support efforts to identify and pursue best practices, and showing early benefits also can encourage additional buy-in for coordination efforts and other new programs.

Cultural Differences

Cultural differences and ineffective communication among agencies were seen as a significant barrier to collaboration in many states. Military service groups and public transportation agencies operate in different ways, with different terminology. Respondents from states that have been more suc-cessful at coordination stressed the need to learn about the cultures and ways of the agencies that you are trying to work with. “As a non-veterans’ organization,” said a survey respondent, “we work hard to understand the culture of the veterans’ organizations we work with. This includes learning their acronyms/terms, understanding their processes and understanding their mission.” If transportation professionals have rarely collaborated with or conducted outreach to veterans’ organizations, it may take more time to develop relationships. Other respondents said that it was very difficult to reach high-level officials in certain organizations, or that transportation providers do not always perceive veterans’ groups as interested in working together. Nevertheless, having the right people at the table was identifiedasakeytosuccessfulcollaboration,evenifmoretimeandeffortarerequired.

“Unfortunately, I do not yet have the statistical data needed to show success. What I can show is excellent progress.”


“There is a military language for trans-portation and a public and human ser-vices transportation language. Both are specific and complex so the participants need translators at first [and] need to learn a new language.”




Low Awareness of Other Agencies and Programs

Many survey respondents noted that a lack of awareness of other agencies and their programs had presented a challenge. Transportation providers often do not know what resources are available through federal or state veterans’ programs and vice versa. One important “what not to do” lesson was not to assume that others know about your agency and the services you provide. “We have found out [that] no matter how long a system has [existed]…” said a survey respondent, “somebody still doesn’t know [about it]… Outreach and education [are] a continuing necessity in the transit business. Your system can be the best kept secret.” Some respondents expressed that, if state agencies are not made aware of fed-erally funded projects in their states under other jurisdictions, it is more difficult for them to pool resources and lend assistance.

In addition, veterans’ agencies often do not consider public transit an option because they do not understand its benefits for veterans. “Outreach efforts are often stalled due to a long-held belief that veterans’ transportation needs are too spe-cialized for public transportation providers to accommodate—a mindset that endures despite a long, rich history of the wide variety of specialized transportation services provided by public operators,” said another respondent. “As a result, despite the growth of available public transportation services, agencies assisting veterans with their transportation needs are still reluctant to use a public option.” Reaching out to veterans’ groups with targeted language they are more likely to recognize can help improve their awareness of available transportation services (see Table 1).

Mistrust of Government

In some states, mistrust of government generally may present a challenge; respondents noted that consistent outreach can help. “I think the outreach processes that have taken place lately are helping to break down those barriers, but it is a slow process,” said a survey respondent. “There is not a history of this kind of outreach to these groups, but hopefully they will begin to see the benefit of organization and coordination, especially around transportation.” Another respon-dent noted that having a nonprofit organization rather than a state agency lead coordination and outreach efforts had been helpful. Others said that starting with a small group of stakeholders or at the local level—where people are most directly affected by transportation decisions—had been effective in getting efforts under way.

Lack of Resources and Services

Across the board, survey respondents raised the issue of a lack of funds, personnel and resources. Many community transportation funding sources have dwindled in recent years, along with state budgets. “Additional targeted outreach costs money,” said a survey respondent. “We are not wanting to duplicate services, we want to augment current transit services.” Many respondents stressed the importance of funds for operating expenses—such as vehicles, fuel, drivers and insurance—in addition to the kinds of resource centers supported by the federal VTCLI program. Some veterans’ agen-cies reported that using state funds had been ineffective; instead, they raised funds through veterans’ organizations and groups such as the DAV to support transportation. In addition, a key shortcoming reported in survey responses is limited transportation services in rural areas. A related difficulty, however, is locating and informing the hundreds of thousands of veterans in rural areas about available services.

Federal Issues

Some survey respondents expressed that certain federal issues related to veterans’ transportation had presented a chal-lenge. One respondent mentioned lack of federal interagency coordination, especially that, “discretionary funds that are announced and awarded through the [federal VA] … create additional silos of funding resources that, perhaps when announced, do not consider existing resources and opportunity for collaboration at the federal level.” Another respon-dent observed that other barriers at the federal level, especially Medicaid rules and the lack of a coordination mandate for Department of Health and Human Services programs, “continue to frustrate coordination of human services trans-portation.” Some respondents also raised concerns about ineffective federal-state communication. “Unlike FTA and the states,” said one respondent, “it appears to be a disconnect between the federal veterans’ funds and the state veterans’ funds.”



Looking Ahead

Many survey respondents noted that successes to date have been limited due to the newness of the federal VTCLI pro-gram and various state efforts. At the same time, respondents used words such as “hopeful” and “promising” to describe the potential for new partnerships and initiatives to yield concrete results for veterans and their families. Respondents perceived a growing awareness of veterans’ transportation needs, and an increasing interest in creating solutions. In par-ticular, many expressed hope that the federal VTCLI program will spark new interest and awareness. One respondent was hopeful that the VTCLI grant program and open forum meetings would elevate enthusiasm for “veterans service organizations to [participate] in planning efforts and to realize the benefits public transportation can provide to veterans and their families.” Expanding awareness and outreach will be key in future years to help veterans gain access to resourc-es. Consistent leadership and funding also will be critical as the work moves forward. “This effort is in its infancy,” said one respondent, “and needs to continue as a priority for years to come, at the federal, state and local [levels].”



State ProfilesProfiles are provided here for all 50 states and the other jurisdictions that responded to the NCSL Veterans Transporta-tion Survey: the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico.

AlabamaState Department of Transportation Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs

State Coordinating Council(s) Alabama United We Ride Commission•Established by executive order in 2005 (Alabama Executive Order No. 28); not

requiredtoincludeveterans’agenciesorrepresentatives.

State Funding or Programs for Veterans’ Transportation

N/A

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards N/A

Other State Activities to Help Veterans Access Transportation

•State law exempts veterans with disabilities from paying license fees and ad valorem taxes on vehicles, only for private vehicles that have been all or partly paid for by thefederalVA.Otherveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesareexemptfrompayingprivilege or license taxes and registration fees for one personal vehicle. Special dis-abled veterans’ plates are available for a reduced registration fee. Recipients of certain honors and former prisoners of war are exempt from paying vehicle registration fees and, in some cases, ad valorem taxes (Ala. Code §32-6-130, §32-6-250, §40-12-244 and §40-12-254).

•Veterans in state veterans’ nursing homes are eligible to receive transportation at no charge to medical-related appointments. The entity contracting with the state to operatetheveterans’homeisrequiredtoprovidetheservice(NCSLSurvey,2012).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned N/A

Alaska

State Department of Transportation Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF)

State Veterans’ Agency Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs (under Department of Military & Veterans Affairs)

State Coordinating Council(s) Alaska Community and Public Transportation Advisory Board •Authorized by legislation/statute(2012AlaskaSess.Laws,Chap.36);notrequired

to include veterans’ agencies or representatives. •The board is continuing the work of the Governor’s Coordinated Transportation

Task Force (GCTTF), which was established by executive order (Alaska Execu-tiveOrders243and252)andexpiredinJan.2012.Theexecutiveorderrequireda member on the GCTTF to be from the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, although the department reportedly declined to participate (NCSL Survey, 2012). A representative from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also partici-pated in the GCTTF ex officio.77


N/A

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards Local/regional only (2011)


•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesfrompayingvehicleregistra-tion taxes and fees (Alaska Stat. §28.10.181).

•The state offers a discounted rate pass on the ferries of the Alaska Marine Highway to veterans with service-connected disabilities.78

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Although the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs declined to participate in the GTTCF, the task force included veterans as a population of interest in discus-sions, studies and planning (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Arizona State Department of Transportation Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services

State Coordinating Council(s) N/A


N/A



•Local veterans’ representatives have begun to be involved with local and regional level coordination efforts, but no statewide activities are taking place (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesfrompayingvehiclelicensetaxes and registration fees (Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §28-5802).


Arkansas State Department of Transportation Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD)

State Veterans’ Agency Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Arkansas Public Transportation Coordinating Council (APTCC)•Authorized by legislation/statute(Ark.Stat.Ann.§§27-3-101etseq.);notrequired

to include veterans’ agencies or representatives.


N/A



•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesfrompayingstatetaxesonpersonal property; this benefit is retained by minor dependent children and surviv-ing spouses unless they remarry (Ark. Stat. Ann. §26-3-306). The only personal property that is taxed in Arkansas for noncommercial use is motor vehicles (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•All veterans and their surviving spouses are eligible for free specialty license plates, with a nominal annual renewal fee capped at $1 (Ark. Stat. Ann. §§27-24-201 et seq.).

•A vehicle displaying disabled veteran specialty license plates may park in areas designated for parking only by a person with a disability (Ark. Stat. Ann. §27-15-316).

•Because of this NCSL survey research, ADVA is considering adding a transporta-tion section to its website (NCSL Survey, 2012).


California State Department of Transportation California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

State Veterans’ Agency California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet)

State Coordinating Council(s) •No human service transportation coordinating council. •The California Interagency Council on Veterans (created in 2011 by California

Executive Order B-9-11) includes the secretary of business, housing and transpor-tation.


N/A

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards Local/regional only (2011 and 2012)




•State law exempts Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and their surviving spouses, former prisoners of war and their surviving spouses, and veterans with qualifyingdisabilitiesfrompayingvehicleregistrationandlicensefeesforonecar,motorcycle or commercial motor vehicle weighing less than 8,001 pounds (Cal. Revenue & Taxation Code §10783, Cal. Vehicle Code §9105). The vehicle license fee was established in 1935 in lieu of a property tax on vehicles.79

•Recipients of certain honors, former prisoners of war, Pearl Harbor survivors and veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesareeligibleforfreespecialtylicenseplates.80

•A vehicle displaying disabled veteran handicap parking license plates is allowed unlimited parking in authorized zones (Cal. Vehicle Code §22511.5).81

•Statelawrequiresalltransitoperatorsthatofferreducedfarestoseniorcitizenstoalso offer fares at the same reduced rates to veterans with disabilities (Cal. Public Utilities Code §99155).


Colorado State Department of Transportation Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council for Transportation Access and Mobility•Authorized by governor’s initiative in 2005. Then-Governor Owens asked many

stakeholders to participate; current members include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.82

•The council also participates in the Colorado Veterans Transportation Task Force (VTTF) (see below).83


The state Veterans Trust Fund, funded by 1 percent of the state’s tobacco settle-ment revenues, can be used for grants to nonprofit veterans service organizations for various programs, including transportation (Colo. Rev. Stat. §28-5-709). In FY 2012−13, about 37 percent of the grant money ($336,338) was awarded to entities that provide transportation assistance.84

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards CDOT received four 2011 grant awards totaling $164,500 and four 2012 grant awards totaling $1.3 million. CDOT and VTTF helped coordinate applications across sub-grantees, and the awards help bring together smaller projects to achieve statewide coordination and coverage. CDOT was the designated recipient for all grants. Awards were to help veterans schedule rides across multiple providers, support complementary one-call/one-click centers in various regions, and coordinate local and statewide resources to improve information about transportation options for veterans.85


•The VTTF was initially formed by the state coordinating council and the Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council (DRMAC) in November 2010. Other members include various organizations that work with veterans or with trans-portation access, including the state departments of transportation, labor and employment, and vocational rehabilitation; county Veterans Service Officers; and nonprofit organizations. The VTTF’s mission is “moving veterans where they need to go through effective, coordinated partnerships and linkages with veterans and non-veterans organizations.”86

•The Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA) invited veterans’ repre-sentatives from across the state to its 2011 spring conference to explain federal reimbursement for veterans’ travel to VA medical facilities (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Veterans are involved not only with the state coordinating council, but also with local coordinating councils in the Denver region, Colorado Springs, Montrose/Delta counties and Salida (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Outcomes or Lessons Learned •Involvement of the federal VA with the state coordinating council has been ex-tremely effective in beginning a statewide effort to improve services (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•VTTF has accomplished three main goals: providing information to local coordi-nating councils and county veterans service officers and facilitating conversation between them; planning and leadership that resulted in substantial VTCLI fund-ing; and presentations to veterans’ groups about transportation options (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•VTTF has worked to help transportation and veterans’ organizations understand each other—including culture, acronyms, terms, processes and mission—which also has helped other stakeholder groups (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Connecticut State Department of Transportation Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs (CTVA)



•The state reimburses local and regional boards of education for a portion of eligible students’transportationtoqualifyingvocationalsecondaryschools.Thisappliesto students who are veterans with wartime service, regardless of age or whether the veteran lives with a parent or guardian (Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §10-97).

•State law provides that veterans may, upon application to the commissioner of vet-erans’ affairs, receive transportation at the expense of the state to a veterans’ home or hospital (Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §27-108).



•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilities,CongressionalMedalofHonor recipients and former prisoners of war from paying vehicle registration fees. Feesalsoarewaivedforspecialtylicenseplatesforveteranswithqualifyingdis-abilities; this benefit is retained by surviving spouses unless they remarry. Vehicles with disabled veteran license plates may be parked overtime for 24 hours without penalty (Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §14-21d, §14-49 and §14-254).

•State law exempts veterans who were state residents at the time of induction and who apply within two years of honorable discharge from paying operator’s license and examination fees for one licensing period (Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §14-50).

•Certain veterans are eligible for a $1,500 exemption for property tax purposes, which can be applied to the automobile tax; they may be eligible for a tax refund if they are leasing a motor vehicle. Veterans below a certain income level or with qualifyingdisabilitiesmayreceiveadditionaltaxexemptions.Survivingspousesalso may be eligible for this benefit (Conn.Gen.Stat.Ann.§§12-81etseq.).87

•Connecticut is part of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-1 (see Massachusetts).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned According to a survey respondent, “Presumably [these activities] are working, as transportation has not been an issue discussed in the Veterans’ Affairs committee or for which legislation has been proposed in any committee in recent years” (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Delaware State Department of Transportation Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs (DCVA) (under Department of State)



N/A



State law waives vehicle registration and license plate fees for veterans with disabili-ties,iftheywereeligibleforfederalbenefitsforvehicleadaptiveequipment(Del. Code Ann. tit. 21, §2164).


Florida

State Department of Transportation Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD)•Authorizedbylegislation/statute(Fla.Stat.Ann.§§427.012etseq.).Bylaw,the

executive director or a senior representative of the FDVA must serve as an ex of-ficio, nonvoting advisor to the commission.

•Stateregulationsrequireeachcounty’slocalcoordinatingboardtoincludeaveterans’ representative (Fla. Administrative Code, Rule 41-2). These boards work with planning agencies and transportation coordinators to develop service plans for transportation disadvantaged populations (NCSL Survey, 2012).


Recent legislation (House Bill 5001/2012 Fla. Laws, Chap. 2012-118) allocates $10 million to the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund in FY 2013 and each year thereafter. The funds are to be used to support transportation for people who, due to disability, income or age, cannot transport themselves or purchase transportation and depend upon others for access to life-sustaining activities. The fund (authorized by Fla. Stat. Ann. §427.0159) is not specifically for veterans, but benefits the many veterans who otherwise fall into the populations it serves.



•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesfrompayingdriver’slicensefees (Fla. Stat. Ann. §322.21).

•Former prisoner of war and Congressional Medal of Honor license plates are tax-exempt. Disabled veteran license plates are exempt from the license plate fee (Fla. Stat. Ann. §320.084, §320.0842, §320.089[2] and §320.0893).

•Veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesareeligibleforadisabledparkingpermitwitha minimal fee ($1.50) (Fla. Stat. Ann. §320.0848[2]).

•Vehicles with a disabled parking permit or disabled veteran license plates may not be charged a fee for parking on any public street or highway or in a metered park-ing space (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316.1964[1]).

•State law allows veterans with disabilities that impair their ability to deposit coins in toll baskets to pass free through all toll gates (Fla. Stat. Ann. §338.155).




Georgia State Department of Transportation Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS)

State Coordinating Council(s) Georgia Coordinating Committee for Rural and Human Services Transportation of the Governor’s Development Council •Authorizedbylegislation/statute(Ga.CodeAnn.§§32-12-1etseq.);notrequired



N/A



•Fees are waived for veterans’ driver’s licenses and honorary licenses for surviving spouses (Ga. Code Ann. §40-5-36 and §40-5-103), as well as for disabled veterans’ specialty license plates and plates for surviving spouses (Ga. Code Ann. §40-2-69).

•Recipients of certain honors may obtain one specialty license plate without paying afee(Ga.CodeAnn.§§40-2-84etseq.).

•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesanddisabledveterans’licenseplates, veterans with certain honorary distinctions and surviving spouses of former prisoners of war from paying ad valorem tax on vehicles (Ga. Code Ann. §§48-5-478etseq.).

•State law exempts veterans with disabilities from paying state sales tax on a vehicle, if a federal VA grant was received for the purchase and special adapting of the vehicle (Ga. Code Ann. §48-8-3).

•Statelawrequiresthat,uponrequest,employeesatafull-service/self-servicegasstation must dispense fuel from the self-service pump into vehicles with disabled veteran license tags, at the self-service price (Ga. Code Ann. §10-1-164.1).88

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Although no statewide efforts specifically target veterans, veterans are among the populations that hopefully will be served through the state’s rural human service transportation (RHST) initiatives. Georgia began efforts to evaluate and improve its RHST delivery system in 2010. Since then, said a survey respondent, “Georgia has successfully inventoried RHST resources, developed baseline performance [data], established a council and advisory body to guide and ensure continued coordination progress, established mobility managers in parts of the state and developed a central strategy to increase the cost-effectiveness of the RHST system. In future years, it is hoped that this strategy will be implemented, tested for effectiveness, and that Geor-gia can clearly show that transportation access has been increased” (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Hawaii State Department of Transportation Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Hawaii Office of Veterans Services (OVS) (under Department of Defense)



N/A



•The OVS has raised funds for the DAV to purchase and operate vans, and has held stand-downs to use funds to buy bus tickets for veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•The OVS provides at-home counseling for veterans, thus reducing veterans’ need for transportation services (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned According to a survey respondent, “Although the state does not specifically focus on providing transportation services to the [veterans’] community, the transportation needs of veterans [appear] to be met through the state and local government pro-grams that meet transportation needs of the population at-large, including the elderly and disabled” (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Idaho State Department of Transportation Idaho Transportation Department (ITD)

State Veterans’ Agency Idaho Division of Veterans Services (IDVS)

State Coordinating Council(s) Public Transportation Advisory Council and Interagency Working Group•Bothauthorizedbylegislation/statute(IdahoCode§40-514);neitherisrequired

to include veterans’ agencies or representatives.•AlthoughstatelawdoesnotrequiretheInteragencyWorkingGrouptoinclude

a veterans’ representative, it does provide for ex officio members. According to a survey respondent, IDVS may soon be named an ex officio member of the group (NCSL Survey, 2012).


The state Veterans Transportation Fund, created in 2002, exists solely to provide vouchers to veterans in wheelchairs to ensure they have transportation to medical appointments(IdahoCode§65-208;IdahoAdmin.Code§§21.01.05.000etseq.).IDVS receives an annual $7,000 appropriation for the program. This program at-tempts to fill a specific unmet need, since volunteer and nonprofit services could not provide transportation in wheelchair-accessible vehicles (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards ITD received three 2011 grant awards totaling $543,658 and one 2012 grant award for $50,000, for both statewide projects and a regional project under state leadership. ITD collaborated with the state Department of Labor, the Community Transporta-tion Association of Idaho (CTAI), and regional and local transportation agencies on projects. ITD was the designated recipient for all grants. Awards have helped create and market a statewide one-call/one-click center, including integration of automated information into the 511 system and creation of a mobile application. ITD also worked to incorporate volunteer drivers into the coordinated scheduling system and establishareservationsystemtosharetriprequests.89


•State law exempts certain veterans from prohibitions related to free public trans-portation (Idaho Code §61-311).

•Including veterans in transportation planning activities is not mandatory but is practiced at the regional level. For example, IDVS participates in regional coordi-nating councils, one of which is developing a veterans’ transportation strategic plan for two Idaho counties (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •The wheelchair transportation program has effectively supplemented the DAV van program to ensure Idaho veterans can obtain transportation to medical appoint-ments (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Outreach to veterans’ organizations—through implementation of the VTCLI-funded statewide one-call/one-click center—has improved communication among stakeholders (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Using nonprofit groups instead of government agencies to lead outreach efforts has helped build trust. Also helpful has been organizing locally first and later broaden-ing the reach, instead of using a top-down approach (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Illinois State Department of Transportation Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Transportation (ICCT)•Authorized by legislation/statute(2003Ill.Laws,P.A.93-0185);notrequiredto

include veterans’ agencies or representatives.


Illinois’ first-of-its-kind Veterans Care Program is intended to provide comprehen-sive, affordable health care to uninsured Illinois veterans. Covered services include emergency medical transportation.90

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards IDOT received one 2011 grant award for $362,000 for a statewide project, and one 2012 grant award for $82,000 for a regional project under state leadership; other VTCLI grants were awarded for local/regional projects. IDOT is working with sub-recipients to create one-call/one-click centers. The University of Illinois at Chicago will provide information on public and specialized transportation for veterans statewide, and Lee County will create an information and scheduling service in a six-county area in northwest Illinois.91


•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesfrompayingvehicleregistra-tion fees (Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 625, §5/3-609).

•Fees are waived for the first set of disabled veteran or ex-prisoner of war license plates (Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 625, §5/3-609 and §5/3-620).

•Disabled veteran license plates allow parking in authorized zones and unlimited parking in spaces with time limits of 30 minutes or more (Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 625, §5/11-1301.1).

•The state offers a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) “Military Service Pass” that allowsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiestorideCTAbusesandtrainsforfree.92

•IDOT sponsored a website initiative to gather information about local veterans’ transportation options in the state (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Veterans’ organizations throughout the state are invited to participate in IDOT-funded regional planning sessions, statewide rural transportation conferences and training programs. Participation, however, has generally been limited (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• IDOT is seeking a representative from IDVA to be a point of contact for transpor-tation coordinators throughout the state, to bridge a communication gap between those coordinators and veterans’ organizations (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•The Illinois legislature considered, but did not enact, House Bill 4592 in 2008, whichwouldhaverequiredIDVAtoprovidetransportationbetweenstateveterans’homes and VA medical facilities, even for veterans who were not residents of the homes.93

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Outreach efforts that were part of the VTCLI-funded statewide one-call/one-click project have included focus groups to assess veterans’ needs; involvement with the veterans’ community; and travel training seminars to improve service provision. These initiatives have increased awareness of public transit options for veterans and their families and will affect transportation at the state, regional and local levels. Survey respondents also expressed hope that this outreach process would help build relationships and better involve veterans’ organizations in transportation planning (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Indiana State Department of Transportation Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA)



N/A



•Prisoner of war license plates allow free, unlimited parking in metered spaces (Ind. Code§§9-18-17-1etseq.).

•Disabled veteran license plates permit unlimited parking in authorized zones (Ind. Code§§9-18-18-1etseq.).Ownersoftheplates,however,stillmustpayregistra-tion fees (Ind. Code §9-29-5-33).


Iowa State Department of Transportation Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Iowa Transportation Coordination Council (ITCC)•Created as a result of a statewide coordination statute (Iowa Code §324A) and

established in state administrative code (Iowa Admin. Code §761-910.3[324A]). Membership has expanded and changed over time, and has sometimes included the IDVA.94


The state veterans trust fund was established in 2007 for the benefit of veterans and their families. By law, it can be used for various purposes, including travel expenses that are directly related to follow-up medical care for wounded veterans and their spouses; ambulance services for veterans who are trauma patients; and emergency ve-hicle repairs (Iowa Code Ann. §35A.13; Iowa Admin. Code 801-14.1[35A]). These types of transportation purposes, however, are not among the current uses listed on the IDVA website.95

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards Iowa DOT received one grant award of $1.5 million in 2012 to create a statewide one-call/one-click center and to purchase transit software to enable ridesharing.96 Iowa DOT proposes to survey all veterans’ transportation programs in the state to assess available services, and to combine that information with databases from 211, Iowa COMPASS and the aging network (NCSL Survey, 2012).


•State law exempts veterans with disabilities from paying registration fees for a ve-hicle that has been provided by the U.S. government. Fees also are waived for these veterans for one set of regular license plates or one set of any specialty veterans’ licenseplatesforwhichtheyqualify(IowaCodeAnn.§321.105).

•Disabled veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor license plates are exempt from the annual registration fee. Disabled veteran license plates may be issued to leased vehicles under certain circumstances. Certain other license plates, subject to an annual registration fee of $15, are issued at no charge, and are available to surviving spouses (Iowa Code Ann. §321.34).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Veterans’ groups have been invited to serve on ITCC, but so far have not actively participated. The VTCLI grant process has encouraged more communication, and survey respondents expressed hope that veterans’ groups will also become more in-volved in future transit and transportation planning activities (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Kansas State Department of Transportation Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Kansas Commission on Veterans’ Affairs (KCVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Kansas United We Ride: Governor’s Committee on Human Service Transportation Coordination•Authorized by governor’s initiative in 2004; does not include veterans’ agencies or

representatives.97


N/A



KDOT has begun to seek input from veterans’ organizations. Specific efforts include studies for intercity bus service planning and rural regional public transportation planning (NCSL Survey, 2012).


Kentucky State Department of Transportation Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC)

State Veterans’ Agency Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Coordinated Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC)•Authorized by legislation/statute (Ky. Rev. Stat. §281.870); does not include veter-

ans’ agencies or representatives.


The state Veteran’s Program Trust Fund—funded by tax check-offs, veterans’ license plate fees and other contributions—supports otherwise unfunded projects and pro-grams that help Kentucky’s veterans (Ky. Rev. Stat. §40.460; 201 Ky. Administrative Regulations §37:010). Since its creation in 1988, the fund has provided more than $100,000 for vehicles to transport veterans.98

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards KYTC received one 2011 grant award for $797,500 and one 2012 grant award for $858,000, both for statewide projects. The funds were awarded to expand and promote a statewide call center, enhance partnerships between participating organiza-tions and purchase one-call technology for regional transportation providers.99


•BeginninginFY2013,theKYTCOfficeofTransportationDeliverywillrequireagencies applying for certain FTA grant funding to include veterans’ groups in their locally developed, coordinated transportation plans. Agencies must contact veterans’ organizations in their area each year to determine their needs and coordi-nate services (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Drivers issued disabled veteran or certain other specialty veterans’ license plates are exempt from paying license plate fees and local motor vehicle licenses and fees. Vehicles displaying these plates may be parked for two hours longer than the legal parking limit (Ky. Rev. Stat. §186.041, §186.162 and §189.4595).

•Kentucky’s legislature considered, but did not enact, Senate Bill 46 in 2012, which would have created an exemption from initial and renewal fees for driver’s licenses and identification cards with a veterans’ designation.

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Although funding has been secured through the federal VTCLI program to develop a one-call/one-click center, the lack of funding to make transit more affordable for veterans remains a concern. According to survey respondents, action may be taken in the next legislative session to address this need (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Louisiana State Department of Transportation Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD)

State Veterans’ Agency Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Human Services Coordinated Transit Work Group•Authorized by legislation/statute (2011 House Concurrent Resolution 131 and

2012 House Concurrent Resolution 181). Membership must include a representa-tive of VetTrans.


N/A



•Veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesareexemptfrompayingfeesfordriver’slicenses, disabled veteran license plates and disability placards (La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §32:412.2 and §47:490.4).

•Qualifying veterans and surviving spouses are eligible for a free ex-prisoner of war license plate (La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §47:490.2).

•Veterans are exempt from paying registration fees or license taxes on a vehicle that was purchased with federal financial assistance, or that vehicle’s replacement (La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §47:463).

•DOTD formally invited veterans’ transportation providers to participate in ongo-ing regional coordination activities. The three main providers in the state have attended meetings to work on locally developed, coordinated transportation plans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •The Human Services Coordinated Transit Workgroup was tasked with identify-ing inefficiencies in transit and human services delivery in Louisiana; veterans and their families were included in those efforts. Workgroup meetings in 2012 also have involved veterans’ stakeholders (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Ongoing coordination activities have benefited transportation services for veter-ans. Some regions are developing targeted marketing materials for veterans about transit (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Maine State Department of Transportation Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Maine Bureau of Veterans Services (BVS) (under Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management)



N/A



•Veteranswhohavequalifyingdisabilities,havebeenprovidedwithacarunder38U.S.C.§§3901etseq.ormeetotherqualificationsareexemptfrompayingfeesforvehicle registration, disabled veteran license plates and disability placards (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 29-A, §523).

•Vehicle registration and license plate fees also are waived for veterans who have been issued certain specialty license plates, although excise taxes may apply. This benefit is retained by surviving spouses in certain circumstances (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 29-A, §524).

•Maine is part of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-1 (see Massachu-setts).




Maryland State Department of Transportation Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) State Coordinating Committee for Human Services Transportation•Authorized by executive order (Maryland Executive Orders 01.01.1997.06,

01.01.2006.09 and 01.01.2010.10). In its current iteration, membership must include the secretary of veterans affairs or a designee. This member’s role is to inform the committee about veterans’ transportation needs and MDVA resources, as well as to participate in the biannual review of applications submitted for certain FTA funding and ensure that veterans’ transportation needs are considered in the selection process (NCSL Survey, 2012).


•The Maryland Veterans Trust Fund (created by House Bill 1561 in 2009) makes grants and loans to veterans and their families who are in dire financial situations and to private organizations that help veterans (Md. State Government Code Ann. §9-913). Uses have included paying for car repairs to ensure that veterans and their spouses can get to work.100

•As part of its Maryland Commitment to Veterans Program, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) contracts with local transportation provid-ers to provide curb-to-curb services for veterans who have no other way to get to behavioral health appointments. Coordinators with DHMH schedule trips and co-ordinate services. Approximately $29,000 in state funds was spent on this program in FY 2011 (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards MDOT received two 2011 grant awards totaling nearly $2 million. One award was for a statewide project to expand an existing Web-based informational resource and install transportation information kiosks at VA facilities and military installations. The other award was for a regional project under state leadership, to implement a one-call/one-click center on the state’s rural Eastern Shore.101


•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesandsurvivingspousesoverage 65 from paying vehicle registration fees (Md. Transportation Code Ann. §13-903).

•The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Office of Local Transit Support established regional coordinating bodies throughout the state. Veterans’ organiza-tions are encouraged to participate on the regional coordinating bodies, and many of the state’s locally operated transit systems work closely with regional veterans’ offices and medical facilities (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•MTA plans to emphasize outreach to veterans’ groups in its next solicitation for FTA grant applications. The goal is to strengthen coordination and increase resources that can support transportation for veterans and their families (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •According to survey respondents, coordination and communication among agen-cies have been the foundation upon which to build. Coordination among locally operated transit systems, local veterans’ offices and medical facilities has effectively ensured not only access to transportation assistance for veterans, but also access to other services and resources (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•One respondent said, “The key to successful coordination is always at the [grass-roots] level where people are most affected and want to see a change” (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Providing personalized service has been key to facilitating transportation for veter-ans and their families (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Massachusetts State Department of Transportation Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS)

State Coordinating Council(s) Community, Social Service and Paratransit Transportation Commission •Authorized by executive order (Massachusetts Executive Order 530). Membership

must include the secretary of veteran’s affairs. Massachusetts Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services•Authorized by executive order (Massachusetts Executive Order 483). Membership

does not include MassDOT, but does include the DAV.


•State regulations authorize DVS to provide assistance to eligible veterans for trans-portation to medical appointments (Mass. Regs. Code tit. 108, §7.11).

•The state funds nonprofits for housing and outreach services. Some of those orga-nizations also provide transportation or pay for taxis or transit passes on a limited basis (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards The statewide Massachusetts Veterans Transportation Coalition (MVTC) supported a joint VTCLI application in 2011; the grant was awarded to the Montachusett Re-gional Transit Authority and its partners (NCSL Survey, 2012). This regional project under state leadership received $2 million to expand a one-call center and support electronic transit fare cards for veterans. Other VTCLI grants were awarded to local/regional projects in 2012.102


•The MVTC formed in 2010 as an ad hoc coalition of state agencies, regional tran-sit authorities and veterans’ organizations. The coalition has developed resources for veterans, including outreach materials to help veterans service officers (VSOs) inform local veterans about available transportation services and—with the HST Office—a website containing a comprehensive list of public and private transpor-tation resources for veterans in the state. The MVTC has made presentations at regional and statewide VSO meetings and participated in outreach at employment fairs and events for older veterans. In addition, coalition members have met with two VA hospitals to identify opportunities for better collaboration and coordina-tion with local transportation providers (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•The Human Service Transportation (HST) Office within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) coordinates transportation programs and serves as a resource for human service transportation-related matters. The office provides a webpage on transportation options for veterans.103

•The HST Office and DVS are helping to lead a transportation initiative under the federal VA’s Veterans Integrated Service Network, Region 1 (VISN-1), also known as the New England Healthcare System, which coordinates health care for veterans across six states. The group’s strategic plan includes improving veterans’ medical transportation through integration of the region’s eight large VA medical centers into a single network and better coordination with transportation providers and state agencies. Among other activities, HST and DVS are working with regional and local providers across New England to develop standardized performance measures (NCSL Survey, 2012).104

•State law exempts certain eligible veterans from paying vehicle excise and sales taxes as well as fees for specialty license plates. Some of these benefits are retained by surviving spouses unless they remarry (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 60A, §1, ch. 64H, §6 and ch. 90, §2).

•Vehicles with a disabled veterans’ license plate may park for longer than is permit-ted by local ordinances, without penalty (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 40, §22).

•As of November 2012, the Massachusetts legislature was considering House Bill 2656, which would authorize free transit for veterans’ trips to a VA hospital.



Outcomes or Lessons Learned •The MVTC meets regularly and brings together stakeholders to encourage coor-dination of resources. The collaboration between state and nonprofit providers has increased fundamental knowledge about available services (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•The VISN-1 strategic plan has led to collaboration between transportation pro-viders and thus more efficient use of available vehicles. In addition, information regarding vehicle-sharing has been disseminated throughout the region (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Although improvements are being made, transportation still is considered one of the greatest barriers to accessing care, services and employment for veterans. It has been found that veterans often do not know what services are available. Expanding efforts to increase awareness of services will be key when moving forward (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Veteransmaynotrealizetheyqualifyforpubliclyavailableservicesiftheword“veteran” is not used. They also may be reluctant to use traditional, fixed-route transit. Incorporating the word “veteran” into outreach materials is important (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Michigan State Department of Transportation Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)



•The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund gives emergency grants to wartime veterans who face temporary financial hardship. Eligible uses include vehicle payments or repairs. The fund was created in 1946 and added to the state constitution in 1996 (Mich.Const.art.IX,§§37etseq.).105

•AprovisionintheFY2011−12budgetbillrequiresstateveterans’homestoensuretransportation for residents to off-site medical appointments, and makes appro-priations to the homes (2011 Mich. Pub. Acts, Act 63 §501[4]).

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards MDOT received one 2012 grant award for $1.47 million to create a statewide one-call/one-click center, accessible through the 211 phone system and the Web. To achieve this, MDOT will collaborate with United Way and integrate eight regional 211 call centers. Other VTCLI grants were awarded to local/regional projects in 2011 and 2012.106


N/A

Outcomes or Lessons Learned According to a survey respondent, “Veteran involvement is integral to good transpor-tation planning. Without meaningful veteran participation, there is a risk of making poordecisions,ordecisionsthathaveunintendednegativeconsequencesforMichi-gan veterans. With it, it is possible to make a lasting contribution to all veterans in thestate.Veteraninvolvementshouldbemorethananagencyrequirementandmorethan a means of fulfilling a statutory obligation; meaningful veteran participation is central to ensuring the concerns and issues of Michigan veterans and their depen-dents are identified and addressed in the development of the policies, programs, and projects being proposed in their communities” (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Minnesota State Department of Transportation Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Minnesota Council on Transportation Access (MCOTA)•Authorized by legislation/statute (Minn. Stat. Ann. §174.285). Membership must

include the commissioner of veterans affairs or a designee.


•The Minnesota Veterans 4 Veterans (V4V) trust fund, established in 2006, gives grants to new or existing veterans’ programs, including transportation (Minn. Stat. Ann. §197.133).107

•The MDVA administers the competitive Enhancement Grant program for coun-ties to augment benefits, programs and services provided to veterans. Transporta-tion programs are eligible.108

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards MnDOT received one 2011 grant award for $1.18 million and one 2012 award for $586,000. The funds were awarded to upgrade and expand the statewide one-call/one-click center.109


•StatelawrequirestheMetropolitanCouncilandtransitagenciesthatreceivestateoperating assistance to provide free rides to veterans with permanent, service-connected disabilities (Minn. Stat. Ann. §174.24 and §473.408). The Legislature appropriated $140,000 each year to support this benefit in FY 2011, FY 2012 and FY 2013.110

•Stateregulationsrequireallstateveterans’homestoprovidetransportationtoap-proved medical providers (Minn. Rules §9050.1030).

•Fees are waived for certain veterans’ specialty license plates (Minn. Stat. Ann. §168.124 and §168.125).

•Qualifying veterans are exempt from paying the vehicle registration tax (Minn. Stat. Ann. §168.031).

•MDVAisrequiredbythegovernor’sofficetoparticipateonMnDOTworkinggroups and committees (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •One of MCOTA’s main accomplishments, as listed in its January 2012 annual report, was its successful VTCLI grant application. This represents a major step forward in coordination by creating the first centralized database of existing trans-portation resources in Minnesota. MCOTA member agencies (MnDOT, MDVA, the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Board on Ag-ing) provided support for the application and will participate in grant implementa-tion from 2012 to 2014 (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•State grant funding for vehicles has been a vital support for county veteran trans-portation programs (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Mississippi State Department of Transportation Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Mississippi State Veterans Affairs Board (MSVAB)


State Funding or Programs for Veterans Transportation

N/A


Other State Activities to Help Veterans’ Access Transportation

•MDOT has begun to meet with MSVAB officials to build a relationship and coor-dinate to make more mobility options available to veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•MDOTadministersfederaltransitfundsandrequiresthatapplicationsbederivedfrom a regional planning process. Regional planning across the state includes veter-ans’stakeholders,buttheirparticipationisnotrequired(NCSLSurvey,2012).

•Veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesmaypurchasealicenseplatefor$1andareexempt from paying ad valorem and privilege taxes (Miss. Code Ann. §27-19-53).

•Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and former prisoners of war are exempt from paying vehicle registration fees and privilege taxes (Miss. Code Ann. §27-19-54).

•Recipients of the Purple Heart are eligible to receive one free set of specialty license plates, exempt from ad valorem taxes, privilege taxes and all other taxes and fees. Vehicles displaying this plate may park free of charge in any state parking space or parking facility (Miss. Code Ann. §27-19-56.5).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •MDOT has brought some ideas to the table about resource-sharing, one-stop call centers and eliminating service duplication with MSVAB, but have found it chal-lenging to arrange meetings with high-level administrators (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Regional planning activities have effectively raised awareness of veterans’ needs and increased coordination efforts that include veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Outreach and education are a necessity for transit providers. No matter how long a system has existed, someone still doesn’t know about the available travel options (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Missouri State Department of Transportation Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) (under Department of Public Safety)

State Coordinating Council(s) Coordinating Council on Special Transportation and Interagency Committee on Special Transportation•Both authorized by legislation/statute (Mo. Rev. Stat. §208.275 and §226.805,

respectively).Neitherisrequiredtoincludeveterans’agenciesorrepresentatives.


•MVC grants funds to the DAV that are used for medical van transportation (NCSL Survey, 2012).



•State law allows certain veterans to park for free in metered parking spaces, upon approval of the local governing body (Mo. Rev. Stat. §304.725).

•State law exempts veterans with proof of permanent disability from the VA from thefour-yearcertificationrequirementforrenewalofdisabledlicenseplatesorplacards (Mo. Rev. Stat. §301.142).




Montana State Department of Transportation Montana Department of Transportation (MDT)

State Veterans’ Agency Montana Veterans Affairs Division (under Department of Military Affairs)



N/A

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards Great Falls Transit received one grant award of $380,000 in 2012 to develop a state-wide, Web-based, veterans-focused coordination system among transportation and human service organizations.111


•The DAV participated in a series of transit summits with health, human service and transportation stakeholders to discuss veterans’ needs and services.

•MDT and the state Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) have begun to call for regional coordination meetings throughout the state (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•MDT and DPHHS also are working closely with the federal VA’s Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) and encouraging its inclusion in local and regional coordination efforts (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Veterans’ organizations are invited to participate in local transit advisory commit-tees (TACs). TACs coordinate local services and approve the coordination plan requiredforcertaintransitfunding.Althougheffortsaretoonewtoevaluate,thegoal is to have veterans represented on all local TACs (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Statelawexemptsformerprisonersofwar,veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesandcertain surviving spouses from paying vehicle registration and license plate fees (Mont. Code Ann. §61-3-460).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •MDT and DPHHS plan to continue to work with the federal VTS program to offer transportation information statewide. They also plan to continue improving service coordination throughout the state (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Because the VTS has accessible vehicles (unlike the DAV), it can more often coordinate and share rides with local public transportation providers when travel-ing long distances across the state to transport veterans to medical appointments (NCSL Survey, 2012).

• The statewide transit summits would have benefited from inclusion of the VTS, had the state agencies that hosted the summits known about the program at the time (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Nebraska

State Department of Transportation Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR)

State Veterans’ Agency Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs

State Coordinating Council(s) Transportation Access Working Group•Authorizedbyexecutiveorder(NebraskaExecutiveOrder04-01);notrequiredto



N/A



N/A




NevadaState Department of Transportation Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Nevada Office of Veterans Services (NOVS)



Revenue from the fees for certain special veterans’ license plates is transferred to NOVS to support a DAV-run van program that transports rural veterans to VA hos-pitals (NCSL Survey, 2012).



State law exempts veterans from paying the vehicle privilege tax (also known as the Governmental Services Tax), up to a certain amount. A veteran may transfer this ex-emption to a spouse, but only during the veteran’s lifetime. Veterans also can choose to “donate” their exempted tax directly to the Nevada Veterans’ Home Account for operationofveterans’homesinthestate(Nev.Rev.Stat.§§371.103etseq.).


New Hampshire State Department of Transportation New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency New Hampshire State Office of Veterans Services

State Coordinating Council(s) State Coordinating Council (SCC) for Community Transportation•Authorizedbylegislation/statute(N.H.Rev.Stat.Ann.§§239-B:1etseq.);not

requiredtoincludeveterans’agenciesorrepresentatives.


N/A



•Begun in 2002, the New Hampshire State Veterans Advisory Committee (SVAC) consists of two state senators, two state representatives and members from various veterans’ organizations, including the DAV (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §115-A:8). State agencies have advised the committee as non-members, not including NHDOT. The SVAC monitors and supports legislation that affects veterans and reports bian-nually to the legislature and governor. The committee is not focused on transporta-tion issues, but has covered related topics (NCSL Survey, 2012).112

•State law waives vehicle registration and specialty license plate fees for veterans withqualifyingdisabilitiesandformerprisonersofwar.PearlHarborsurvivorand Purple Heart specialty license plates are exempt from license plate fees but not from registration fees (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §261:86, §261:141, §261:157 and§261:159).Veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesalsoareexemptfrompayingdriver’s license fees (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §263:42).

•Statelawrequiresmotorvehicleswithspecialtydisabledveteranlicenseplatestobeallowed free parking in any city or town (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §265:73).

•New Hampshire is part of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-1 (see Massachusetts).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned The development of the SCC and regional coordinating councils has set a platform for coordination of transportation services, and has effectively brought together inter-ested transportation providers. Scarce funding and a lack of involvement by veterans’ organizations, however, have limited the ability to expand or focus services to help veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).



New Jersey State Department of Transportation New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) •No human service transportation coordinating council. •New Jersey’s Council on Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs includes the commis-

sioneroftransportation(N.J.Stat.Ann.§§38A:3-16etseq.)


•DMAVA funds a statewide veterans’ transportation program, in which state vet-erans service officers (VSOs) in each county coordinate and subcontract rides for veterans who need transportation. According to DMAVA, the program “originated due to the distance many N.J. veterans had to travel to get to a VA facility for medical care.” Free transportation is offered to VA medical facilities, other hospi-tals and physicians, the VA regional office and local veterans service offices in most counties.113 The FY 2011−12 budget bill (2011 N.J. Laws, Chap. 85) appropriated $335,000 to grants-in-aid for the veterans’ transportation program.114

•DMAVA has provided Yellow Ribbon Committee grants, designed to provide financial relief for a range of emergencies and business “re-start” assistance for recently returned veterans and their families. Eligible uses included vehicle repair or replacement for primary transportation, employment or medical necessity.115

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards NJ Transit received a $1.46 million grant award in 2011 to enhance and expand the Camden Travel Management and Coordination Center to better serve veterans. Another VTCLI grant was awarded to a local/regional project in 2012.116


•StatelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesandCongressionalMedalof Honor recipients from paying vehicle registration fees (N.J. Stat. Ann. §39:3-27.1).

•As of November 2012, the New Jersey Legislature was considering Assembly Bill 774, which would exempt senior citizens, people with disabilities and veterans frompayingE-ZPassaccountmonthlyservicecharges.TheLegislatureconsidered,but did not enact, similar bills in the previous session (Assembly Bill 1778 and Senate Bill 2708).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •DMAVA is an effective resource for veterans who need help to secure transporta-tion at the county level (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•The veterans’ transportation program is well-established and provides more than 25,000 trips annually; the numbers increase each year (NCSL Survey, 2012).117

•No statewide transportation planning activities include veterans at this time (NCSL Survey, 2012).

New Mexico State Department of Transportation New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS)



NMDVS receives about $125,000 each year to provide transportation services to veterans and their families under a program in which volunteer drivers use their personal vehicles. The program serves veterans in rural areas and veterans’ family members who otherwise are not served by VA transportation programs, and shares the VA’s dispatch system in order to better determine which program can best serve each veteran who calls (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards NMDOT coordinated its 2012 application with NMDVS and received a $414,000 award to enhance a regional transportation call center and promote the service throughout the state (NCSL Survey, 2012). Another VTCLI grant was awarded to a local/regional project in 2012.118




•Statelawqualifiescertainveteransfora$4,000reductioninpropertytax;inlieuofthat reduction, the benefit can instead be used to obtain a one-third discount on a vehicle registration fee (N.M. Stat. Ann. §66-6-7).

•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesfrompayingexcisetaxesonvehicle purchases (N.M. Stat. Ann. §7-14-6).

•Veteranswithqualifyingdisabilities,formerprisonersofwar,andCongressionalMedal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients can be issued specialty license plates without paying a fee or charge, including the vehicle registration fee. Surviving spouses are eligible for the prisoner of war license plate. Pearl Harbor license plates are issued at no charge, but the vehicle registration fee applies (N.M. Stat. Ann. §66-3-409, §66-3-411, §66-3-412, §66-3-414 and §66-3-415).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned The volunteer transportation program has been effective in serving veterans and their families—especially because it shares the VA’s dispatch system so that the federal program receives all calls and determines which service will work best. Challenges include availability of volunteer drivers and the condition of their vehicles. New Mexicodoesnotrequireavehicleinspectionduringregistration,anditisimpossibleto stay aware of the condition of the vehicles. In addition, mileage reimbursement rates have not kept pace with growing expenses associated with rising gas prices (NCSL Survey, 2012).

New York State Department of Transportation New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs (NYSDVA)



N/A



•Veterans with disabilities who obtain a fee-exempt vehicle registration can enroll intheNewYorkThruwayAuthority’sDisabledVeteranNon-RevenueE-ZPassprogram and have free, unlimited travel on the Thruway system when traveling in an eligible vehicle.119

•Vehicleregistrationandlicenseplatefeesarewaivedforveteranswithqualifyingdisabilities, former prisoners of war and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients; Purple Heart recipients are exempt only from paying the license plate fee. Surviv-ing spouses also are exempt from paying license plate fees for former prisoner of war specialty plates (N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law §401; N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law§§404-aetseq.).120

•The New York Legislature enacted Senate Bill 5784 in 2011 (N.Y. Military Law, §301-c),whichrequiresthestateDivisionofMilitaryandNavalAffairsandtheDivision of Veterans Affairs to inform returning combat veterans about accident prevention courses that are approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Com-pletionofacoursecanqualifyadriverforlowermotorvehicleinsurancepremiumsand reduced points related to traffic tickets.121

•As of November 2012, the Legislature was considering several bills that relate to transportation for veterans. Senate Bill 3594 and Assembly Bill 7260 would estab-lish a state interagency coordinating council for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Assembly Bill 1657 and Senate Bill 4153 would authorize free transit for war veterans for the year immediately after the veteran’s return to the state. Assembly Bill 6006 would eliminate tolls on the New York State Thruway for vehicles transporting veterans to VA hospitals and other veterans’ health care facili-ties.

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Although the initiatives sponsored by the Department of Motor Vehicles are limited, they appear to be successful. Programs for veterans in New York seem to focus on other areas, such as employment and health; transportation options for veterans and their families may warrant additional consideration (NCSL Survey, 2012).



North Carolina

State Department of Transportation North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs (NCDVA) (under Department of Ad-ministration)

State Coordinating Council(s) North Carolina Human Service Transportation Council (HSTC)•Authorizedbyexecutiveorder(NorthCarolinaExecutiveOrder21);notrequired



N/A

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards NCDOT received two awards totaling $517,000 in 2012 to create a one-call/one-click center for rural transit providers in southwest North Carolina, and to upgrade a center in Jacksonville. Other VTCLI grants were awarded to local/regional projects in 2012.122


•State law exempts from taxation certain vehicles owned by veterans with disabilities (N.C. Gen. Stat. §105-275).

•State law offers a reduced vehicle registration fee of $1 for a vehicle given by the federal government to a veteran because of a disability from wartime service (N.C. Gen. Stat. §20-87).

•LegionofValorrecipients,veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesandformerprison-ers of war can receive one license plate per year free of charge; both license plate and registration fees are waived, unless the vehicle weighs over 6,000 pounds (N.C. Gen. Stat. §20-79.7).


North Dakota State Department of Transportation North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs



•The Veterans’ Postwar Trust Fund exists to support programs of benefit and service to veterans or their dependents (N.D. Cent. Code §37-14-14), and underwrites in part a state veterans’ transportation system that offers free rides to the VA hospital in Fargo using five vans on scheduled routes.123 In 2011, North Dakota House Bill 1468 provided one-time funding of $50,000 to purchase vans; the federal VA provides funds for operating costs (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•In 2011, North Dakota House Bill 1468 also amended state law so the income earned by the Veterans’ Postwar Trust Fund in each biennium is appropriated to the Administrative Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACOVA) on a continuing basis in the following biennium for authorized programs, including transportation. Prior to this change, the income was available in the same biennium in which it was earned (NCSL Survey, 2012). To make up for the lost income during the 2011−13 biennium, the bill made a one-time transfer of $210,000 from the general fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans’ programs.124

•The state offers hardship assistance grants to veterans and their spouses, including for transportation to medical treatment.125

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards The city of Grand Forks received a $1.77 million grant award in 2012 for a statewide project. The city will work with NDDOT and other regional partners to expand an existing call center and online resource into a full service, statewide one-call/one-click center.126




•NDDOT’s transit division has worked to develop relationships with other state agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Medicaid and Adult and Aging Services programs in the Department of Human Services. Under NDDOT leadership, stakeholders—including state and county veterans represen-tatives as well as public and private transportation service providers—have together implemented a transportation coordination pilot project that focuses on veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Veterans’ representatives are included in transportation planning through regional coordination bodies. Both top-level executives and county VA case workers partici-pate (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•The North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council is composed of members from five veterans’ organizations (including the DAV), not state agencies. Its main role is to monitor and sponsor legislation that affects veterans and their dependents (NCSL Survey, 2012).127

•The Administrative Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACOVA), authorized in stat-ute (N.D. Cent. Code §37-18.1), exists within the Department of Veterans Affairs and is responsible for implementing laws concerning veterans in North Dakota. Among other duties, it approves funding for the state veterans’ transportation system (NCSL Survey, 2012). ACOVA has 15 voting members from the five major veterans’ organizations, each appointed by the governor, plus three nonvoting members representing the state adjutant general, the federal VA and Job Service North Dakota. No member of the North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council may hold concurrent membership on ACOVA.128

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •Open communication, having people at the table who make the difference and can spread the word, and letting people know what options are available are key. Until VA case workers became involved in transportation planning, they were unaware of available services. It also helps to start small and build from there (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Involving the Department of Veterans Affairs in the grant application and plan-ning process has been effective in determining veterans’ transportation needs (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Ohio State Department of Transportation Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS)



N/A



•ODOT is conducting a research project, the “Ohio Mobility Study,” to examine resources, potential participants and recommendations for a state-level human service transportation coordinating council. ODVS was invited to and attended a recent “Mobility Summit” to offer input before the recommendations were final-ized (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•ODOTinvitesODVStoquarterlymobilitymanagerroundtablesandencouragesmobility managers to include county-level veteran services coordinators in regional coordination planning activities (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Statelawrequirescountyveteransservicecommissionstoestablishregularlysched-uled transportation for veterans to VA medical centers, and allows commissions to pay for transportation to veterans’ homes upon application (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §5901.03 and §5907.07).

•VeteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesandveteranswhoobtainPurpleHeartspe-cialty license plates are exempt from paying vehicle registration fees, service fees and local license taxes (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §4503.41 and §4503.571).

•In 2009, the Ohio legislature considered, but did not enact, House Bill 151, which wouldhaverequiredODOTtoinstalldirectionalandinformationalsignsonstatehighways to indicate the location of VA medical facilities.

Outcomes or Lessons Learned According to a survey respondent, whether veterans’ transportation initiatives are effective is determined “on a case-by-case basis and truly is dependent on the will-ingness of the parties to come together to discuss possible collaborations” (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Oklahoma State Department of Transportation Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA)•The War Veterans Commission is the controlling board that establishes and ap-

proves ODVA policy, including for transportation programs. The governor selects commission members from a list of war veterans that is submitted by the state’s three major veterans’ organizations, one of which is the DAV (NCSL Survey, 2012; Okla. Stat. tit. 72, §63.2).

State Coordinating Council(s) Oklahoma United We Ride Council•Authorized by executive order (Oklahoma Executive Order 2006-20). Membership

must include the director of ODVA.


ODVA transportation programs are partially funded by state appropriations (NCSL Survey, 2012).



•ODVA provides transportation to medical appointments for residents of Okla-homa Veterans Centers (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesfrompayingexcisetaxesonvehicles; this applies to only one vehicle in a consecutive three-year period (Okla. Stat. tit. 68, §2105).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned The ODVA transportation system has been safe and effective, but it remains a chal-lenge to reach the significant number of Oklahoma veterans who live in rural areas (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Oregon State Department of Transportation Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) No human service transportation coordinating council. From 2009 to 2010, however, the state had a Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation (see below).


•The state Veterans’ Emergency Financial Assistance program gives grants directly to veterans. Although as of November 2012 this program was reportedly inactive, eligible uses for grants, when available, included emergency transportation.129

•ODOT’s Public Transit Division is working with federal and state veterans’ agencies to help veterans access health care by providing wheelchair-accessible vehicles to VA facilities and counties. Local transit agencies train volunteer drivers, and ODOT conducts preventive maintenance on the vehicles for one year (NCSL Survey, 2012).



•From 2009 to 2010, Oregon had a Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transporta-tion (established by 2009 Senate Bill 98), which provided specific recommendations to the 2011 legislature. Members included the state departments of transportation, human services, employment, military and veterans’ affairs.130

•ODOT is conducting a statewide study of coordination activities and potential measurable outcomes; ODVA is on the study’s steering committee (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Oregon has eight “brokerages” that serve as one-stop call centers for people who qualifyforcertainpublictransitandhumanservicestransportation.Thebroker-ages are being expanded to include resources for veterans, such as trip planning and information and referral services; three pilot projects are now under way. These proj-ects were funded by mobility management grants through ODOT and the federal VTCLI program (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Statelawallowsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiestopayaone-time,reducedvehicle registration fee (Or. Rev. Stat. §805.100).

•Oregon House Bill 2403, enacted in 2011, directs various state agencies—including ODOT—to partner with the Oregon Military Department to provide reintegration services for veterans.

•Oregon’s legislature adopted House Joint Memorial 6 in 2011, urging Congress to requirethefederalVAtopayveterans’transportationcostswhenaveteranwhofirstseeks emergency care at a non-VA hospital is transported to a VA facility.

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •The Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation submitted a final report to the legislature that identified issues around veterans’ transportation, particularly focused on medical access. The task force was influential in developing relationships between state agencies, which may be used in the future to further address veterans’ transportation needs (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•To date, ODOT has provided 11 vehicles to three VA facilities and one county. The first wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the VA transportation fleet, they will provide a new level of effective service for medical transportation. These first vehicles, however, were rehabilitated, federally funded small buses that were considered beyond useful life and had been removed from the state’s inventory. Survey respondents noted that reconditioning old vehicles was not a good investment, and that ODOT plans to provide newer, more reliable vehicles in the next phase of this project. Also, the most useful vehicles for transporting veterans seem to be modified, ADA-accessible vans or minivans, rather than larger, cutaway-type small buses, which volunteers did not like to drive (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•It is too soon to evaluate the success of the brokerages, but they are on track and the model appears to work well (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•The unfortunate reality of scarce resources makes it unlikely that new, additional services will be provided to meet veterans’ needs. Transit agencies, however, are de-veloping regional transit networks that will help veterans and others meet their daily transportation needs, including employment, shopping and medical services outside VA centers (NCSL Survey, 2012).

http://www.oregon.gov/ODVA/TASKFORCE/Transportation_TF.shtml



Pennsylvania State Department of Transportation Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Pennsylvania Office for Veterans Affairs (under Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)



The FY 2011−12 budget bill allocated $336,000 for DAV transportation (2011 Pa. Laws, Act 1A). This line item is maintained annually (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards PennDOT received a $2 million grant award in 2011 for a statewide project to create four regional one-call/one-click centers. Cambria County also received $50,000 in 2012 (in addition to another local/regional award in 2011) to be used partially for coordination planning with PennDOT’s statewide network.131


•The Center for Rural Pennsylvania (a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency) released a study in January 2012 that identified the medical transportation needs of veterans in rural areas of the state and offered recommendations.132 The center released other reports in 2012 on services offered by county veterans’ affairs offices and veterans’ demographic profiles.133

•Each year, the DAV, veterans service organizations and various representatives of state government hold a van “drive off.” The vans are purchased with state fund-ing to support the DAV program that transports veterans to VA facilities (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•As of November 2012, the Pennsylvania legislature was considering House Bill 2734, which would add vehicles with disabled veteran specialty license plates to the list of those that may park in areas reserved for people with disabilities.

Outcomes or Lessons Learned So far, veterans groups have not been very involved in transportation coordination or planning, but the VTCLI funding is expected to engage more stakeholders (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Rhode Island State Department of Transportation Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Rhode Island Division of Veterans Affairs (under Department of Human Services)



N/A



•Veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesareexemptfrompayingvehicleregistrationand driver’s license fees. Disabled veteran specialty license plates are transferable to a surviving spouse (R.I. Gen. Laws §31-6-8).

•Purple Heart recipients and former prisoners of war are exempt from paying vehicle registration fees and service charges for specialty license plates; both types of plates are transferable to a surviving spouse (R.I. Gen. Laws §31-3-46 and §31-3-48).

•2012 House Bill 7190 (pending as of November 2012) would create a position of coordinator within the Division of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans with transpor-tation to the VA hospital in Providence.

•Rhode Island is part of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-1 (see Massachusetts).




South Carolina State Department of Transportation South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency South Carolina Office of Veterans’ Affairs (SCOVA) (under Governor’s Office of Executive Policy and Programs)

State Coordinating Council(s) South Carolina Interagency Transportation Coordination Council•Authorized by executive order (South Carolina Executive Order 2009-13). Mem-

bership must include the director of the state department of veterans affairs (SCOVA).


The state Veterans Trust Fund supports various public and private programs for veter-ans,includingtransportationtoVAhospitals(S.C.CodeAnn.§§25-21-10etseq.).134

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards SCDOT received a $49,700 award in 2012 to analyze veterans’ transportation needs in a four-county region in the southeastern part of the state and to update a coordina-tion and outreach plan to address those needs. Another VTCLI grant was awarded to a local/regional project in 2011.135


•Veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesandformerprisonersofwarareexemptfrompaying vehicle registration and license fees for specialty license plates. Surviving spouses also can obtain both kinds of plates (S.C. Code Ann. §56-3-1110 and §56-3-1150).

•Purple Heart license plates are exempt from the license fee (S.C. Code Ann. §56-3-3310).

•Congressional Medal of Honor license plates are exempt from the license fee (S.C. Code Ann. §56-3-1850), and vehicles with these plates may park in metered or timed parking places without being subject to parking fees or fines (S.C. Code Ann. §56-3-1855).

•The legislature considered in its 2012 session, but did not enact, House Bill 4637, whichwouldhaverequiredregionaltransportationauthoritiestoprovidefreepub-lictransittoqualifyingveterans.

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •So far, the state coordinating council has made slow progress; it has been difficult for SCDOT to develop relationships with SCOVA. Some state agencies seem skep-tical of a process that would evaluate their transportation resources. More collabo-ration on the federal level with discretionary grants would help state agencies work together (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•More open communication is needed among veterans’ facilities and transportation providers (NCSL Survey, 2012).

South Dakota State Department of Transportation South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (under Department of the Military and Department of Veterans Affairs)



State law provides that, if a resident of the state veterans’ home is admitted to the South Dakota Human Services Center, all expenses—including transportation for which the resident lacks sufficient means—are paid by the state (S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §27A-4-11).

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards SDDOT received two grant awards in 2011 totaling $503,000 for two regional transit systems to upgrade their scheduling technology, with the intent to have these two entities create the base for a one-call/one-click center for the state. SDDOT also received two awards in 2012 totaling $100,000 for the same two transit systems to fund education and outreach campaigns promoting their one-call/one-click centers (NCSL Survey, 2012).136


N/A




Tennessee State Department of Transportation Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs (TDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Interagency Transportation Coordination Committee•Authorized by legislation/statute (2011 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 198). Membership

must include a representative of TDVA.


N/A



•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesandformerprisonersofwarfrom paying the county motor vehicle privilege tax (Tenn. Code Ann. §5-8-102).

•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilities,formerprisonersofwarandrecipients of various honors from paying vehicle registration and license plate fees. At least the former prisoner of war and Purple Heart specialty license plates are transferable to a surviving spouse (Tenn. Code Ann. §55-4-203, §55-4-236, §55-4-237 and §55-4-239).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned As of April 2012, the Interagency Transportation Coordination Committee had met once. No results have been seen to date (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Texas

State Department of Transportation Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Texas Veterans Commission (TVC)

State Coordinating Council(s) •No human service transportation coordinating council.•The Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services (TCCVS) (created in 2011

bySenateBill1796;seeTex.GovernmentCodeAnn.§§434.151etseq.)iscom-posed of state agencies, but does not include TxDOT. The council has explored transportation, but mainly in relation to other issues such as access to health care or housing. The council also has worked to identify the efforts of local nonprofit or service organizations to enhance transportation options for veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).


•State law allows toll entities to offer free or discounted use of a tolled highway to veterans with disabilities or recipients of the Purple Heart or the Congressional Medal of Honor. The statute also allows the Legislature to make appropriations from the general fund to a toll entity to defray the cost of these discounts (Tex. Transportation Code Ann. §372.053).

•The state Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) awards reimbursement grants to eligible charitable organizations, local government agencies and veterans service organizations that provide direct assistance—including transportation services—to Texas veterans and their families (Tex. Government Code Ann. §434.017). The fund is supported by several revenue sources, including scratch-off lottery tickets (established in 2009 by Senate Bill 1655) and vehicle registration fees.137

•The Transportation Support Services program, established in regulation (Tex. Admin.Code§§459.1etseq.),providestemporarytransportationassistancetoveterans to help them obtain or retain employment. Eligible uses include gas cards, bus vouchers and other appropriate pre-purchase transportation costs. The funds may not be used to reimburse a veteran for transportation expenses, for vehicle insurance payments or for costs exceeding $50.

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards TxDOT received a $231,000 award in 2012 to create a one-call/one-click center in a 14-county area in East Texas. Other VTCLI grants were awarded to local/regional projects in 2011 and 2012.138




•TxDOT hosted a conference in April 2012 that featured a panel discussion with the federal VA and transportation providers from across the state about best practices in serving veterans. Attendees included transportation planning agencies, transportation providers and others (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•TxDOT also provided information to regional transportation planning agencies about veterans service officers in each of the state’s 254 counties, and has given other customized technical assistance to local entities that seek to better serve veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•TxDOT has reached out to the TVC to pursue partnership opportunities and funding assistance (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesfrompayingdriver’slicenseand vehicle registration fees. Disabled veteran specialty license plates are issued for a one-time fee of $3, with no renewal fee, and a person with these plates can ob-tain a disabled parking placard without providing additional documentation (Tex. Transportation Code Ann. §504.202 and §521.426).

•Various other veterans’ specialty license plates are issued for $3 or no fee, and the vehicle registration fee is waived for the first set of plates (Tex. Transportation Code Ann. §504.3015).139

•Statelawallowsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilities,recipientsofvarioushonorsand former prisoners of war to park for free in metered parking spaces (Tex. Trans-portation Code Ann. §681.008).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •The TCCVS has worked mainly to identify local efforts and activities of non-profit or service organizations. Several regional planning bodies have successfully coordinated services to transport veterans to VA hospitals. Statewide transportation resources or programs provided directly to veterans or their families, however, are limited (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Since the FVA began in 2009, the TVC has awarded nearly $700,000 to nonprofit organizations and counties to provide transportation assistance to veterans and their families. According to a survey respondent, “…[veterans’] transportation is best coordinated at the local level by municipal and county level governments as well as nonprofit and service organizations … Providing a revenue stream for the [FVA] has been very effective in allowing local programs to grow and thrive” (NCSL Survey, 2012). The respondent further called the FVA “the most significant activity in which the [TVC] participates directly regarding the transportation of veterans” (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Utah State Department of Transportation Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Utah Department of Veterans Affairs

State Coordinating Council(s) Utah United We Ride Workgroup (UWRWG)•Voluntary agency participation (no legal authority); does not include veterans’

agencies or representatives (NCSL Survey, 2012).140


N/A

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards The Utah Transit Authority received $450,000 in 2012 to build a statewide data exchange framework for sharing information across regional transportation provid-ers—including the DAV—as part of an existing VA call center pilot project. Other VTCLI grants were awarded to local/regional projects in 2011 and 2012.141




State law exempts Purple Heart recipients from paying fees for automobile driver ed-ucation, vehicle registration, license plates and uninsured motorist identification, as well as from local option highway construction and transportation corridor preserva-tion fees (Utah Code Ann. §41-1a-1204, §41-1a-1206, §41-1a-1211, §41-1a-1218 and §41-1a-1222). Purple Heart license plates (as well as former prisoner of war and disabled veteran plates, to which fees do apply) are transferable to surviving spouses (Utah Code Ann. §41-1a-421).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Since Utah began its call center pilot project, transportation providers have been moving veterans in a more organized manner between VA facilities and other parts of the state, including rural areas. The software developed for this process has made a great difference. This progress is seen by human service and public transit agencies as encouraging and an example for them (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Vermont State Department of Transportation Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans or AOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs

State Coordinating Council(s) Vermont Public Transit Advisory Council (PTAC)•Authorizedbylegislation/statute(Vt.Stat.Ann.tit.24,§5084);notrequiredto

include veterans’ agencies or representatives. A member from the Agency of Hu-man Services (AHS), however, represents veterans, among other groups (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•PTAC has also formed a veterans’ transportation working group. The group will conduct a needs assessment and determine a plan for how best to connect vet-erans and their families to transportation services. Membership of the working group includes the AHS representative for veterans, transit agencies, the DAV and MHISSION-VT, a jail diversion project for veterans through the University of Vermont (NCSL Survey, 2012).


The Vermont Veterans Fund was created in 2010 to provide grants or support to in-dividuals or organizations engaged in activities that provide various veterans’ services, including transportation services. The fund is endowed mainly by means of a check-off box on individual state income tax returns (Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 20, §1548).142

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards VTrans received a $353,000 award in 2011 to create a one-call/one-click website and implement a new scheduling and dispatching system that includes DAV and federal VA transportation services.143


•State law exempts veterans who have had a vehicle granted to them by the federal VA from paying vehicle sales tax as well as registration and license fees. Other veterans are not exempt, including those who may have total disabilities (Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 23, §378 and §2002).144

•Vermont is part of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-1 (see Mas-sachusetts).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Although no data is available that demonstrates measurable outcomes, all local transit providers report that they work with local veterans’ groups and regularly provide service to VA hospitals (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Virginia State Department of Transportation Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS)



N/A





•In the last year, the state Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) began to meet with DVS. Staff have helped veterans access transportation services from FTA grant-funded rural transit programs (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Veteranswithqualifyingdisabilitieswhoareissueddisabledveteranspecialtyli-cense plates are exempt from paying annual registration and license fees. Surviving spouses can also receive the plates (Va. Code §46.2-739).

•License plate fees are waived for some veterans’ specialty license plates (Va. Code §46.2-743).145

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Although the collaboration between DRPT and DVS has resulted in veterans using rural transit programs, efforts are in their infancy and the numbers remain small (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Washington State Department of Transportation Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (ACCT)•Formerly authorized by legislation/statute (Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §§47.06B.010

etseq.);thisauthorityexpiredonJune30,2012,butthecouncilcontinuestomeet.MembershipincludesarepresentativefromWDVA,asrequiredbytheexpired statute.


•The state Veterans Innovations Program was created in 2006 by Second Substitute House Bill 2754, to help veterans and their families who face financial hard-shipsduetodeploymentsinIraqandAfghanistan.Originalfundingcamefroma $2 million legislative appropriation; additional funding is from the state lottery “Veterans Raffle” program and other donations. It offers two grant programs: the Defenders’ Fund for emergency assistance, and the Competitive Grant Program to help veterans and their families gain sustainable family-wage employment and become self-sufficient. The latter can be used for supportive services such as trans-portation assistance, and has been used for car repairs. The Veterans Innovations Programwillsunsetin2016(Wash.Rev.CodeAnn.§§43.60A.160etseq.).146

•WSDOT created a travel voucher program for veterans to use on public transit to connect with DAV services. Certain bus lines also provide direct trips to the VA facility in Seattle (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards WSDOT coordinated and submitted VTCLI grant applications on behalf of area nonprofits and received three 2011 grant awards totaling $737,100 to support regional one-call/one-click centers, mobile phone applications and software up-grades. WSDOT also received four awards in 2012 totaling $400,000 to support the regional one-call/one-click centers through outreach and promotion, additional software upgrades and new websites. Another VTCLI grant was awarded to a local/regional project in 2011.147




•Washington State Ferries (and participating local transit agencies) offer reduced fares to people with disabilities, including veterans with VA or other documenta-tionofqualifyingdisabilities.148

•To promote ongoing dialogue, WSDOT began in early 2012 to facilitate monthly statewide meetings of a Veterans Transportation Steering Committee. The commit-tee discusses VTCLI project development and implementation, including broader issues and challenges related to veterans’ transportation. Participants include representatives from WDVA, the federal VA, transportation providers, nonprofit organizations and human services agencies (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•As of November 2012, WSDOT was conducting the state’s first statewide human service transportation coordinated plan. The effort will specifically include consid-eration of veterans’ transportation needs.149

•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilities,formerprisonersofwarandCongressional Medal of Honor recipients from paying vehicle license (or registra-tion) fees, license plate fees and excise taxes (Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §46.04.671, §46.18.230 and §46.18.235).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •WSDOT’s efforts to coordinate VTCLI funds have reportedly been effective in making all grantees aware of projects in other areas of the state. WSDOT also has created a forum in which grantees are encouraged (and expected) to work together to minimize service overlap. More robust federal, state and local partnerships, however, are needed (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•According to a survey respondent, “Partnerships between many diverse organiza-tions are critical for facilitating access to transportation options for veterans, their families and spouses. In addition, it is important to include veterans in local and regional coordinated planning work” (NCSL Survey, 2012).

West Virginia State Department of Transportation West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance

State Coordinating Council(s) West Virginia Transportation Coordinating Council•Created by executive order in 2004 (West Virginia Executive Order No. 5-04).

The executive order expired in 2005 when the administration of Governor Bob Wise ended, but the group continues to meet (NCSL Survey, 2012). Membership wasnotrequiredtoincludeveterans’agenciesorrepresentativesundertheexecu-tive order.

•Three legislative measures were proposed in 2006 to establish the council perma-nently;noneincludedaveterans’representativeamongtherequiredmembership(House Bill 4763, Senate Bill 787 and Senate Bill 735).150 To date, the legislation has not been proposed again (NCSL Survey, 2012).


StatelawrequiresthedirectoroftheDepartmentofVeteransAssistancetoprovidevolunteers who will transport veterans to veterans’ hospitals from their homes or local veterans’ affairs offices; volunteers are to be paid a per diem of $75 for expenses (W. Va. Code §9A-1-10). The FY 2013 budget bill allocated $625,000 to the department for veterans’ transportation (2012 W. Va. Acts, Chap. 10).



•The WVDOT Division of Public Transit sends out notices of funds available (NOFAs) to entities that are eligible for FTA funds and programs; the federal VA is included in the distribution list. WVDOT also invites the federal VA to participate in its coordination planning activities (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Statelawexemptsveteranswithqualifyingdisabilities,formerprisonersofwarandcertain other veterans from paying vehicle registration fees. Surviving spouses also may continue to use these plates (W. Va. Code §17A-3-14).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Sending out written invitations may not be enough to engage the proper stakeholders from veterans’ organizations (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Wisconsin State Department of Transportation Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA)

State Coordinating Council(s) Interagency Council on Transportation Coordination (ICTC)•Authorized by a governor’s initiative in 2005. Membership includes the WDVA.151

In addition, the County Veterans Service Officers Association and the DAV of Wisconsin serve on the ICTC’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) (NCSL Survey, 2012).


•The state Veterans Trust Fund supports veterans’ services, including two programs that help veterans get to VA medical appointments. State law provides for an annual $100,000 payment from the fund to the DAV (Wis. Stat. §45.41[4]); in addition, annual “County Transportation Services Grants” are awarded to counties that are not served by the DAV, to “develop, maintain and expand transporta-tion services for veterans” (Wis. Stat. §20.485, §25.36, §45.41 and §45.83; Wis. Admin. Code §VA 16.02).152

•In the FY 2011−13 budget bill (2011 Wis. Laws, Act 32), the Legislature approved a one-time transfer of $5 million from the general fund to the Veterans Trust Fund to keep it solvent.153

•The state Assistance to Needy Veterans grant program provides limited financial assistance to veterans and their families who are in need and have exhausted all other sources of aid. Eligible economic emergencies include failure of the sole means of transportation (Wis. Admin. Code §VA 2.01[1][k]). Funds can be used for various purposes, including essential travel (Wis. Stat. §45.40).154



•License plate and registration fees are waived for the first set of former prisoner of war specialty license plates. Disabled veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor specialty plates have no license plate fees, but registration fees still apply (Wis. Stat. §341.14).155

•Vehicles with disabled veteran specialty plates have the same parking privileges as drivers with disabilities, including exemptions from parking time limits and free parking in metered parking spaces with time limits of 30 minutes or more (Wis. Stat. §346.50).

•The Wisconsin Council on Veterans Programs—authorized by Wis. Stat. §15.497(2) and §45.03(3)—advises the Board of Veterans Affairs and WDVA on solutions and policy alternatives relating to the problems of veterans. The council also must submit a biennial report to the Legislature. Membership includes more than 25 organizations serving veterans, including the DAV, but no state agencies. It is unknown whether the council has addressed transportation issues (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned The County Transportation Services Grants have worked well to meet veterans’ trans-portation needs in underserved areas (NCSL Survey, 2012).

http://dva.state.wi.us/Board.asp



Wyoming State Department of Transportation Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency Wyoming Veterans Commission (under Military Department)

State Coordinating Council(s) A state transportation coordination council has formed, but as of November 2012 had not yet held its first meeting (NCSL Survey, 2012).


N/A



Formerprisonersofwarandveteranswithqualifyingdisabilitiesareexemptfrompaying vehicle registration fees. State law also allows veterans who are eligible for the veterans’ property tax exemption to apply unused exemptions to vehicle registration fees(butnotsalestax).Morethanonevehiclemayqualify,uptoalimitforthetotalexemption (Wyo. Stat. §31-3-101).156

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •Wyoming is in the initial stages of considering veterans’ transportation issues. Once the state coordinating council begins to meet, there may be opportunities to see how veterans could be better served (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•According to another survey respondent, however, it may be easier to coordinate transportation for veterans at the local level because Wyoming is a large, rural state (NCSL Survey, 2012).

District of ColumbiaState Department of Transportation District Department of Transportation (DDOT)

State Veterans’ Agency D.C. Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA)



N/A



Veterans can receive discounted fare passes for Metro rail and bus services (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned Despite some outreach by the metropolitan planning organization, no activities are yet under way in Washington, D.C. (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Northern Mariana IslandsState Department of Transportation Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Office of Transit Author-

ity (COTA) (created by Public Act 17-43157 in 2011)

State Veterans’ Agency Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Office of Military Liaison and Veteran’s Affairs

State Coordinating Council(s) Commonwealth Public Transportation Advisory Board•Createdbylegislationin2011(PublicAct17-43)withinCOTA;notrequiredto





N/A

Federal VTCLI Grant Awards COTA received a $1.08 million grant award in 2012 to build a one-call/one-click center for veterans who live on the islands.158 Various veterans’ organizations and agencies—including the CNMI Veterans Affairs Office, the CNMI Military Inte-gration Management Committee, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System and others—were actively involved in the grant application. The partnerships will continue as the projects are implemented (NCSL Survey, 2012).


The newly created COTA plans to reach out to veterans and military family mem-bers to engage them in transportation planning and evaluation. They will be included in development of COTA goals and policies, establishment of a public transit system, and Commonwealth Public Transportation Advisory Board activities (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Outcomes or Lessons Learned COTA is undergoing organizational structuring. No data that demonstrates out-comes is available at this time (NCSL Survey, 2012).

Puerto RicoState Department of Transportation Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (Departamento de

Transportación y Obras Públicas) (DTOP)

State Veterans’ Agency Veterans Advocate’s Office (under Office of the Governor)(Oficina del Procurador del Veterano)



•The state agency dedicated to providing services to veterans administers a program that furnishes metro cards for the Urban Train System. The metro cards, valid for 12 trips, offer a transportation alternative for veterans to travel to the VA hospital (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•In 2012, adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 1013 reassigned $25,000 from the Administration for the Development of Agricultural Companies to the Veterans Advocate’s Office to provide matching funds to purchase buses for veterans’ trans-portation.



•The law establishing the Veterans Advocate’s Office (29 L.P.R.A. §823b)—attached to the office of the governor—gives it responsibility for handling the problems, needs and claims of Puerto Rican veterans in several areas, including transporta-tion.

•Senate Bill 1639, enacted in 2011, exempts Purple Heart recipients from paying highway tolls on Purple Heart Day, August 7.

Outcomes or Lessons Learned •Hundreds of veterans travel by train to their VA medical appointments using the metro card provided by the Office of the Solicitor General for Veterans, even if it is on a limited basis (NCSL Survey, 2012).

•Scarce funding and a lack of participation in joint ventures with other agen-cies—especially those in charge of public transit and public works—have limited coordination of transportation services for veterans (NCSL Survey, 2012).



Appendix A. NCSL Veterans’ Transportation Survey

This survey was distributed to legislative staff, personnel at state departments of transportation (DOTs) and veterans’ agencies, state coordinating councils and other selected stakeholders in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the territories. Responses were received from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. A version of the survey also was sent to the United We Ride (UWR) Ambassadors, with slight edits to allow responses for the several states in each ambassador’s jurisdiction. Responses were received from eight of the 10 ambassa-dors. Responding agencies in the states and territories and responding United We Ride regions are listed in Appendix B.

NCSL SURVEY:State Activities to Facilitate Transportation Access for Veterans and Their Families

Thank you for participating in this survey. This survey contains only 9 substantive questions (13 total).

This survey is part of a research project of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the U.S. Department of Labor. Your responses will be used in a new, first-of-its-kind foundational report about state-level activities to facilitate access to transportation op-tions for veterans and their families. By completing this survey, you are contributing to the most up-to-date, compre-hensive research on this topic.

All survey data will be associated with states, not attributed to individual respondents, in the final report. The report will also include an appendix listing the agencies that responded to the survey.

Please enter your answers on this form and return it to NCSL by Tuesday, May 1, 2012, as an e-mail attachment ([email protected])orbyfax(303-364-7800,Attn:JaimeRall,EET).Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthissurveyorthe study, please contact Jaime Rall at [email protected] or 303-856-1417.

NOTE: Throughout the survey, if you refer to a specific report, statute, legislative bill, executive order or regu-lation, please include citations, Web addresses or other details to help us find it. Please also include with your response any attachments or links that add to your answers.

PART I: STATE APPROACHES (6 questions)

1) Please enter your STATE or TERRITORY. __2) What STATE-LEVEL ACTIVITIES are taking place in your state to facilitate access to transportation options

for:

2a) VETERANS? __ 2b) FAMILIES OR SPOUSES OF VETERANS? __

Note: Please be as comprehensive as possible. For example, please include any actions of the state legislature, governor, state coordinating council, veterans agency, department of transportation, and/or other state-level entities to facilitate veterans’ access to transportation options for medical, mental health, employment, edu-cational, recreational, social service or any other purposes. Activities may include direct services, multi-agency coordination, state mandates for local and regional entities, informational resources or any other state-level activities of which you are aware.

3) What STATE-LEVEL FUNDING is available in your state to help facilitate access to transportation options for VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES AND SPOUSES? __

Note: Please be as comprehensive as possible. For example, please include any funding for general veterans services that include transportation, for coordination activities that include veterans’ organizations, for vouch-ers or discount programs, or any other funding of which you are aware.

mailto:[email protected]




4) How are VETERANS OR VETERANS’ ORGANIZATIONS included in human service transportation COORDI-NATING COUNCILS in your state, either at the state or regional level(s)? For example, at what level(s) are veterans or veterans’ organizations included, and is their inclusion mandatory or voluntary? __

Note: Coordinating councils are entities that facilitate cooperation across governmental agencies and stake-holder groups to provide better transportation access across populations.

5) How are VETERANS OR VETERANS’ ORGANIZATIONS included in TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES in your state at the state, regional or local level(s)? For example, at what level(s) are veterans or veterans’ organizations included, and is their inclusion mandatory or voluntary? __

Note: Please be as comprehensive as possible. For example, please include veterans’ participation in any plan-ning process at any level of government, for any form of transportation.

6) What OTHER RELEVANT ACTIVITIES are taking place in your state? __

Note: Please be as comprehensive as possible. For example, please include any veterans transportation activi-ties at other (non-state) levels of government of which you are aware; any future plans to engage in veterans transportation efforts that have not yet been implemented; any transportation planning or service activities specifically directed at active or reserve duty service members and their families in your state; or any other comments that will help us better understand relevant activities in your state.

PART II: RESULTS AND LESSONS LEARNED (4 questions)

7) To what extent do you believe these state-level activities have been EFFECTIVE in facilitating access to transportation options for VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES AND SPOUSES in your state? Please include your own observations, as well as any formal outcomes data of which you are aware. __

8) What has WORKED WELL in your state to facilitate access to transportation options for VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES AND SPOUSES? Please describe key successes and effective activities and approaches. __

9) What has NOT worked well in your state to facilitate access to transportation options for VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES AND SPOUSES? Please include less successful activities and approaches, and any lessons learned. __

10) Please share any additional LESSONS LEARNED, BEST PRACTICES OR RECOMMENDATIONS for facilitat-ing access to transportation options for VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES AND SPOUSES. __

PART III: CONTACT AND OTHER INFORMATION (3 questions)

11) Do you have any OTHER COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS you would like to share? __12) Please share CONTACT INFORMATION for everyone who contributed to this survey response. We will

contact you if we have follow-up questions, and to share the final report.

Primary contact person: Name: __

Title: __

Agency: __

E-mail: __

Phone: __

Other contributors (including name, agency and e-mail): __



13) As a general principle, NCSL will not share your contact details with third parties who are not involved directly with this research. As a result of this report, however, NCSL may be asked to share your informa-tion with individuals who have a specific interest in veterans transportation issues in your state. If you would prefer that we did not share your name as a resource, please check the box below.

Please do not share my contact details with individual stakeholders who are interested in veter-ans transportation issues in my state.

Thank you for your help with this survey!

Please email your completed survey to [email protected] fax it to 303-364-7800, attn: Jaime Rall, EET, by Tuesday, May 1, 2012.

Please include with your response any attachments, links or other materials that will help us better understand VETERANS ISSUES, TRENDS, STATISTICS OR TRANSPORTATION ACCESS in your state.




Appendix B. NCSL Veterans’ Transportation Survey Respondents

This list includes all agencies and United We Ride regions that responded to the NCSL survey on veterans’ transporta-tion.

Responding Agencies in the States and TerritoriesAlabama Alabama Department of Senior ServicesAlabama Department of Veterans AffairsAlabama Legislative Reference Service

AlaskaAlaska Department of Transportation & Public

FacilitiesAlaska Legislative Research ServicesMunicipality of Anchorage

ArizonaArizona Department of Transportation

ArkansasArkansas Bureau of Legislative Research Arkansas Department of Veterans AffairsArkansas State Highway and Transportation

Department CaliforniaCalifornia Department of Transportation

ColoradoColorado Department of TransportationColorado Interagency Coordinating Council for

Transportation Access and MobilityDenver Regional Mobility and Access Council

ConnecticutConnecticut Office of Legislative Research

DelawareDelaware Commission of Veterans Affairs

FloridaFlorida Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis

and Government AccountabilityFlorida Commission for the Transportation

Disadvantaged

GeorgiaGeorgia Regional Transportation Authority Governor’s

Development CouncilTotal Care Transportation Services, LLC.

HawaiiHawaii County Mass TransitHawaii Office of Veterans ServicesMaui Department of TransportationOahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

IdahoCommunity Transportation Association of IdahoIdaho Department of LaborIdaho Division of Veterans ServicesIdaho Legislative Services OfficeIdaho Transportation Department

IllinoisIllinois Department of TransportationMcLean County Regional Planning CommissionSouth Central Illinois Regional Planning &

Development Commission

IndianaDisabled American VeteransIndiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs

IowaIowa Department of TransportationIowa Department of Veterans Affairs

KansasKansas Commission on Veterans’ AffairsKansas Department of Transportation

KentuckyKentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of

Transportation Delivery



LouisianaAlliance Transportation Group Inc.Human Services Coordinated Transit Work Group Louisiana Legislature

MaineMaine State Legislature Office of Policy and Legal

Analysis

MarylandMaryland Transit Administration

MassachusettsMassachusetts Department of Veterans’ ServicesVA Boston Healthcare System

Michigan Michigan Department of Transportation Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

MinnesotaMinnesota Department of Veterans AffairsMinnesota House of Representatives

MississippiMississippi Department of Transportation

MissouriDisabled American Veterans

MontanaMontana Department of Military Affairs, Veterans

Affairs DivisionMontana Department of TransportationMontana Legislature, Legislative Services Division

NebraskaNebraska Department of RoadsNebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs

NevadaNevada Department of Transportation Nevada Legislature, Legislative Counsel BureauNevada Office of Veterans Services

New HampshireCooperative Alliance for Seacoast TransportationNew Hampshire Department of TransportationNew Hampshire State Office of Veterans Services

State Coordinating Council for Community Transportation

Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission

New JerseyNew Jersey Legislature, Office of Legislative Services

New Mexico New Mexico Department of TransportationNew Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services

New YorkNew York Legislature Senate Finance Committee

North CarolinaNorth Carolina Division of Veterans AffairsNorth Carolina General Assembly, Legislative Research

Division

North DakotaNorth Dakota Legislative CouncilNorth Dakota Department of Transportation

OhioOhio Department of Transportation, Office of Transit

OklahomaIndian Nations Council of GovernmentsOklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs

OregonOregon Department of Transportation, Public Transit

DivisionOregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans

Affairs Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Rhode IslandRhode Island Department of Human Services,

Division of Veterans AffairsRhode Island Public Transit Authority

South CarolinaSouth Carolina Department of Transportation, Office

of Public TransitPalmetto Breeze Generations Unlimited



South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of TransportationSouth Dakota Legislature, Legislative Research

Council

TennesseeTennessee Department of Veterans AffairsTennessee General Assembly, Office of Legal Services

TexasTexas Department of Transportation, Government and

Public Affairs DivisionTexas Department of Transportation, Public

Transportation Division Texas Senate Research CenterTexas Veterans CommissionTexas Veterans of Foreign Wars

UtahUtah State Legislature, Office of Legislative Research

and General Counsel Utah Department of Transportation

VermontVermont Agency of Transportation

VirginiaVirginia Department of Rail and Public TransportationVirginia Department of Transportation

WashingtonHopelinkMercy TransportationWashington State Department of Transportation

West VirginiaWest Virginia Department of Transportation, Division

of Public Transit

WisconsinWisconsin Department of Veterans AffairsWisconsin State Legislature, Legislative Council

WyomingWyoming Veterans Commission

District of Columbia D. C. Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs

Northern Mariana IslandsCommonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Office of Transit Authority, Public Transportation Advisory Board

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Of-fice of Military Liaison and Veteran’s Affairs

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Council on Developmental Disabilities

Healthcare Group, LLC (Saipan Call-a-Ride)

Puerto RicoPuerto Rico Office of Legislative Services

Responding United We Ride Regions

United We Ride Region 1 (Conn., Mass., Maine, N.H., R.I. and Vt.)

United We Ride Region 3 (Del., Md., Penn., Va., W.V. and D.C.)

United We Ride Region 4 (Ala., Fla., Ga., Ky., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tenn. and Puerto Rico)

United We Ride Region 5 (Ind., Ill., Minn., Mich., Ohio and Wis.)

United We Ride Region 7 (Iowa, Kan., Mo. and Neb.)United We Ride Region 8 (Colo., Mont., N.D., S.D.,

Utah and Wyo.)United We Ride Region 9 (Ariz., Calif., Hawaii, Nev.,

Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mari-ana Islands)

United We Ride Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Ore. and Wash.)



Key Resources

NCSL Resources

Farber, Nicholas J., and James B. Reed. State Human Service Transportation Coordinating Councils: An Overview and State Profiles. Denver: NCSL, 2010, http://www.ncsl.org/documents/transportation/HSTCCover.pdf.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Human Services Transportation Coordination: Overview and Document Library. Denver: NCSL, updated July 2012, http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research.aspx?tabs=951,72,1064#1064.

———. Military and Veterans Affairs State Legislation Database. Denver: NCSL, 2012, http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=19832.

———. NCSL Executive Committee Task Forces: Task Force on Military and Veterans’ Affairs. Denver: NCSL, 2012, http://www.ncsl.org/state-federal-committees.aspx?tabs=855,106,703.

———. NCSL’s State Transportation Coordination Database. Denver: NCSL, 2012, http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=18167.

———. State Human Service Transportation Coordinating Councils: An Overview and State Profiles. Denver: NCSL, updated July 2012, http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=20357.

Rall, Jaime, and Nicholas J. Farber. Regional Human Service Transportation Coordinating Councils: Synthesis, Case Studies and Direc-tory. Denver: NCSL, 2012, http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=24055.

Sundeen, Matt; James Reed; and Melissa Savage. Coordinated Human Service Transportation: State Legislative Approaches. Denver: NCSL, 2005, http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=18424.

Other Resources

Burkhardt, Jon E.; Joseph M. Rubino; and Joohee Yum. Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Results Digest 99: Improving Mobility for Veterans. Washington, D.C.: TCRP, 2011, http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rrd_99.pdf.

Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). The National Resource Center for Human Service Transportation Coor-dination. Washington, D.C.: CTAA, n.d., http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=8&z=62.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative. Washington, D.C.: FTA, 2012, http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/13094_13528.html.

Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation, Final Report (Salem, Ore.: Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation, 2010), http://cms.oregon.gov/odva/TASKFORCE/pages/transportation_tf.aspx.

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Transportation Disadvantaged Populations: Federal Coordination Efforts Could Be Further Strengthened, Report GAO-12-647. Washington, D.C: U.S. GAO, 2012, http://www.gao.gov/as-sets/600/591707.pdf.

United We Ride. United We Ride: Coordinating Human Service Transportation. Washington, D.C.: United We Ride, n.d., http://www.unitedweride.gov/.

http://www.ncsl.org/documents/transportation/HSTCCover.pdf



http://www.ncsl.org/state-federal-committees.aspx?tabs=855,106,703

http://www.ncsl.org/state-federal-committees.aspx?tabs=855,106,703





http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rrd_99.pdf

http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=8&z=62

http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/13094_13528.html

http://cms.oregon.gov/odva/TASKFORCE/pages/transportation_tf.aspx

http://www.gao.gov/assets/600/591707.pdf

http://www.gao.gov/assets/600/591707.pdf

http://www.unitedweride.gov/1_ENG_HTML.htm

http://www.unitedweride.gov/1_ENG_HTML.htm



Notes 1. Jon E. Burkhardt, Joseph M. Rubino, and Joohee Yum, Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Results Digest 99: Improving Mobility for Veterans (Washington, D.C.: TCRP, 2011), 10, http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rrd_99.pdf. 2. Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation, Final Report (Salem, Ore.: Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transpor-tation, 2010), 12, http://www.oregon.gov/odva/TASKFORCE/docs/legislativetf_transportation_sm.pdf. 3. Burkhardt et al., Improving Mobility for Veterans, 12. 4. Scott Bogren, Our Duty: Providing the Mobility Our Veterans Need—To Health Care, To Work and Beyond (Washington, D.C.: Community Transportation Association of America [CTAA], 2011), http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/article-files/Veterans_OurDuty.PDF. 5. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Economic News Release: Employment Situation of Veterans Summary (Washington, D.C.: BLS, 2012), http://www.bls.gov/news.release/vet.nr0.htm. 6. Bogren, Our Duty. 7. Bogren, Our Duty; BLS, Economic News Release; Burkhardt et al., Improving Mobility for Veterans; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), How Common is PTSD? (Washington, D.C.: VA, updated 2012), http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/how-common-is-ptsd.asp. 8. U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative: Helping Veterans and Their Families Get Where They’re Going (Washington, D.C.: U.S. DOT, 2012), http://www.dot.gov/careers/veterans-transpor-tation-and-community-living-initiative. 9. Authorized by 38 U.S.C. §111 and 38 CFR §§70.1 to 70.50. 10. Burkhardt et al., Improving Mobility for Veterans, 25. 11.Authorizedby38U.S.C.§§3901etseq.and38CFR§§17.155etseq. 12.Authorizedby38U.S.C.§3104;38CFR§21.154;and38CFR§§21.370etseq. 13. Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Initiative Overview: Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative (Wash-ington, D.C.: FTA, 2012), http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/12305_13540.html. 14. Burkhardt et al., Improving Mobility for Veterans, 28; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Overview of VTS Program (Washington, D.C.: VA, updated 2012), http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vts/. 15. The archived National Online Dialogue on Veterans’ Transportation is at http://veteransdialogue.ideascale.com/. 16. Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Need a Ride? (Cold Spring, Ky.: DAV, n.d.), http://www.dav.org/volunteers/Ride.aspx. 17. Burkhardt et al., Improving Mobility for Veterans, 33. 18. Ibid. 19. Information about legislation concerning transportation for veterans is included throughout the text and in the State Profiles. For more information and links to bill text, see National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), NCSL’s State Transpor-tation Coordination Database (updated November 2012), http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=18167; and NCSL, Military and Veterans Affairs State Legislation Database (updated November 2012), http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=19832. 20. The data in this paragraph and Figure 2 are drawn from Nicholas J. Farber and James B. Reed, State Human Service Transportation Coordinating Councils: An Overview and State Profiles (Denver: National Conference of State Legislatures [NCSL], 2010), http://www.ncsl.org/documents/transportation/HSTCCover.pdf, as well as other unpublished NCSL research. For more information about state legislation concerning human service transportation coordination, see NCSL, NCSL’s State Transportation Coordination Database. 21.Alaskarequireditsnow-expiredGovernor’sCoordinatedTransportationTaskForce(GCTTF)toincludearepresentativefrom the State Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, although the department reportedly declined to participate (NCSL Survey, 2012). The new Alaska Community and Public Transportation Advisory Board, which was created by legislation in the 2012session,doesnothavethisrequirement(seealsoStateProfileandnote77). 22. Maryland’s Governor’s Warrior to Worker Council (created in 2010 by Maryland Executive Order 01.01.2010.21), Mas-sachusetts’ Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services (created in 2007 by Massachusetts Executive Order 483), Nevada’s Governor’s Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs (created in 2012 by Nevada Executive Order 2012-15) and Texas’ Coordinat-ingCouncilforVeteransServices(createdin2011byTex.GovernmentCodeAnn.§§434.151etseq.)eachincluderepresentativesfrom several state agencies, but not the state departments of transportation. New Hampshire’s State Veterans Advisory Committee (SVAC), North Dakota’s Veterans Coordinating Council and Administrative Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACOVA) and Wis-consin’s Council on Veterans Programs are not discussed here, since their membership is not primarily composed of state agencies nor is their main purpose interagency coordination; each has, however, explored veterans’ transportation issues or includes the DAV among its members (see State Profiles for details). Arkansas’ Governor’s Yellow Ribbon Task Force (created in 2008 by the governor’s office) is not discussed here or in the State Profiles because it has not worked on transportation issues, is not composed primarily of state agencies, and has not included transportation stakeholders among its members. Note, however, that this task

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rrd_99.pdf

http://www.oregon.gov/odva/TASKFORCE/docs/legislativetf_transportation_sm.pdf

http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/articlefiles/Veterans_OurDuty.PDF

http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/articlefiles/Veterans_OurDuty.PDF

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/vet.nr0.htm

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/how-common-is-ptsd.asp

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/how-common-is-ptsd.asp

http://www.dot.gov/careers/veterans-transportation-and-community-living-initiative

http://www.dot.gov/careers/veterans-transportation-and-community-living-initiative

http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/12305_13540.html

http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vts/

http://veteransdialogue.ideascale.com/

http://www.dav.org/volunteers/Ride.aspx

http://www.dav.org/volunteers/Ride.aspx



http://www.ncsl.org/documents/transportation/HSTCCover.pdf



force—made up of members appointed by the governor and charged with developing guidelines to help Arkansas veterans with reintegration—surveyed veterans in the state about challenges and needs, but did not identify transportation as a major issue in need of attention (NCSL Survey, 2012). 23. Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Governor Brown Creates California Interagency Council on Veterans [press re-lease] (Sacramento: Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., 2011), http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17177; California Executive OrderB-9-11;N.J.Stat.Ann.§§38A:3-16etseq.;2005N.J.Laws,Chap.40. 24. Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council (DRMAC), DRMAC Programs (Denver: DRMAC, 2012), http://www.drmac-co.org/programs.html; Colorado Veterans Transportation Task Force (VTTF), Overview of Task Force and Organizational Profiles (Denver: VTTF, Nov. 21, 2011). 25. The veterans’ transportation resource page from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EO-HHS) is located at http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/commissions-and-initiatives/hst/for-veterans.html. 26. Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation, Final Report. 27.IdahoCode§65-208andIdahoAdmin.Code§§21.01.05.000etseq. 28. VI ST T. 3 §8a and VI ST T. 33 §3038. 29. Not included in this list but also of note is Florida’s Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund. This dedicated fund sup-ports transportation for people who, due to disability, income or age, cannot transport themselves or purchase transportation and depend upon others for access to life-sustaining activities (Fla. Stat. Ann. §427.011). House Bill 5001 (2012 Fla. Laws, Chap. 2012-118), enacted in 2012, allocates $10 million to the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund in FY 2013 and each year thereafter. This was first time the Legislature directly increased the fund (Steve Holmes, Commission for the Transportation Dis-advantaged, phone conversation with Alice Wheet, June 22, 2012). The fund is not specifically for veterans, but benefits the many veterans who otherwise fall into the populations it serves. 30. 2011 North Dakota House Bill 1468; North Dakota Legislative Council, 62nd Legislative Assembly State Budget Ac-tions for the 2011−13 Biennium (Bismarck: North Dakota Legislative Council, June 2011), http://legis.nd.gov/fiscal/biennium-reports/62-2011/budget-analysis/executive/pdf/statebudgetactions201113biennium.pdf. 31. VI ST T. 17 §306. 32.Inaddition,Alabama,ConnecticutandOhioeitherpayforcertaintripstoandfromstateveterans’homesorrequireinstate law that another entity provide them. Connecticut also pays for transportation to VA medical centers. Illinois proposed, but did not enact, relevant legislation in 2008. Sources: Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §27-108; 2008 Illinois House Bill 4592; 2011 Mich. Pub. Acts, Act 63 §501(4); Minn. Rules §9050.1030; Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §5901.03 and §5907.07; NCSL Survey, 2012. 33. Paul Kale, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA), phone conversation with Jaime Rall, July 13, 2012; New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA), New Jersey Veterans Guide (Trenton: DMAVA, 2006), http://www.state.nj.us/military/veterans/njguide/VetsGuide2006.pdf. 34. North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, State Benefits: Transportation System (Fargo: North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, 2009), http://www.nd.gov/veterans/benefits/transport.html; N.D. Cent. Code §37-14-14. 35. W. Va. Code §9A-1-10 and 2012 W. Va. Acts, Chap. 10, respectively. 36. For information about all VTCLI grant awards, see Federal Transit Administration (FTA), 2011 VTCLI Awards (Washing-ton, D.C.: FTA, 2011), http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/sitemap_14201.html; FTA, FTA 2011 Veterans Transportation and Com-munity Living Initiative Project Selections Nov. 9, 2011 (Washington, D.C.: FTA, 2011), http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/VT-CLI_FORMATTED_PROJECT_DESCRIPTIONS.pdf; FTA, VTCLI Project Selections 2012 (Washington, D.C.: FTA, 2012), http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/sitemap_14723.html; FTA, 2012 VTCLI Awards (Washington, D.C.: FTA, 2012), http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/sitemap_14735.html. Additional information about Colorado’s grant awards is from Angela Schreffler, Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council (DRMAC), conversation with Jaime Rall and Alice Wheet, Feb. 6, 2012. 37. Here and in Figure 4, the authors have categorized Colorado and Pennsylvania as having a statewide project, as opposed to regional projects under state leadership. Both states’ departments of transportation received grant awards to achieve a statewide network through coordinated regional projects. See note 36 and State Profiles. 38. See note 36. 39.Foradiscussionabouttherequirementsfor“locallydeveloped,coordinatedpublictransit-humanservicestransporta-tion plans” prior to 2012, see Jaime Rall and Nicholas J. Farber, Regional Human Service Transportation Coordinating Councils: Synthesis, Case Studies and Directory (Denver: NCSL, 2012), 7-8, http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=24055. These plans still arerequiredforsomeprogramsunderthenewfederaltransportationlawenactedin2012,MovingAheadforProgressinthe21stCentury (MAP-21). For more details on relevant changes to federal transit law under MAP-21, see the FTA’s MAP-21 resources at http://www.fta.dot.gov/map21/. 40. Sources besides NCSL Survey, 2012, include Fla. Administrative Code, Rule 41-2 and Florida Commission for the Trans-portation Disadvantaged (CTD), An Introduction to Florida’s Coordinated Transportation System [PowerPoint] (Tallahassee: CTD, April 11, 2012), http://www.dot.state.fl.us/ctd/programinfo/commissioninformation/commissioninformattion.htm.

http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17177

http://www.drmac-co.org/programs.html

http://www.drmac-co.org/programs.html

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/commissions-and-initiatives/hst/for-veterans.html

http://legis.nd.gov/fiscal/biennium-reports/62-2011/budget-analysis/executive/pdf/statebudgetactions201113biennium.pdf


http://www.state.nj.us/military/veterans/njguide/VetsGuide2006.pdf

http://www.nd.gov/veterans/benefits/transport.html

http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/sitemap_14201.html

http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/VTCLI_FORMATTED_PROJECT_DESCRIPTIONS.pdf

http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/VTCLI_FORMATTED_PROJECT_DESCRIPTIONS.pdf






41. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, An Examination of Transportation Services Available to Rural Military Veterans for Medi-cal Services (Harrisburg: The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, 2012), http://www.rural.palegislature.us/documents/reports/transpor-tation_services_for_veterans_2011.pdf. 42. VTTF, Overview of Task Force. 43. See also Beverly Ward, “Coordinating Transportation in VISN 1,” Beverly Ward’s Ambassador Blog (April 2012), http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=3056&z=74; VA New England Healthcare System, About Us, http://www.newengland.va.gov/network/index.asp; VA New England Healthcare System, VA New England Healthcare System Strategic Plan FY 2012–2016 (n.p.: VA New England Healthcare System, 2012), 17, http://www.newengland.va.gov/docs/StrategicPlan-FY2012-2016.pdf. 44. 2012 Kentucky Senate Bill 46. 45. All veterans residing in the U.S. Virgin Islands receive free license plates, under the authority provided in 20 V.I.C. §334a. See State Profiles for details on all other jurisdictions included in Figure 7. 46. This list refers to states that reduce or waive fees for disability placard fees specifically for veterans. Other states that have no placard fees generally are not included. California, for example, is not listed because, since 2001, the state has not charged a fee for disability placards for any eligible applicant regardless of veteran status (2001 Cal. Stats., Chap. 708; Cal. Vehicle Code §22511.55). 47. California Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle License Fee (VLF) FAQs (Sacramento: State of California, 2011), http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/faq_vlf.htm. See also State Profile. 48. 2011 Massachusetts House Bill 2656; 2011 New York Assembly Bill 1657 and Senate Bill 4153; 2012 South Carolina House Bill 4637. 49. New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs (NYSDVA), State Benefits (Albany: NYSDVA, n.d.), http://www.veterans.ny.gov/state-benefits.html. 50. Tex. Transportation Code Ann. §372.053; see also State Profile. 51. The New Jersey Legislature also considered, but did not enact, similar bills in the previous session (Assembly Bill 1778 and Senate Bill 2708 in the 2010−11 session). 52. In addition, as of November 2012, the Pennsylvania legislature was considering House Bill 2734, which would add ve-hicles with disabled veteran specialty license plates to the list of those that may park in areas reserved for people with disabilities. 53. Mo. Ann. Stat. §301.142. 54. Ga. Code Ann. §10-1-164.1. 55. Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation, Final Report. For information about federal initiatives with a similar “bringing healthcare to veterans” paradigm, see Sheri Grewe, “TeleHealth: Technology for All Veterans” [PowerPoint] (Presenta-tion at the NCSL Legislative Summit, Chicago, Ill., August 2012), http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=25181.

56. Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, State of Illinois Benefits for Veterans (Springfield: IDVA, 2010), http://www2.il-linois.gov/veterans/documents/veterans%20benefits2.pdf. 57. 2011 New York Senate Bill 5784; N.Y. Military Law, §301-c. 58. New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (NYS DMNA), Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course For Post-Deployment Combat Veterans (Albany: NYS DMNA, n.d.), http://dmna.ny.gov/vet_mva_prevention.pdf. 59. 29 L.P.R.A. §823b. 60. Legislative Task Force on Veterans’ Transportation, Final Report. 61. Ibid. 62.Tex.GovernmentCodeAnn.§§434.151etseq.;Texas2011SenateBill1796. 63. Tex. Government Code Ann. §434.017; information on grant recipients can be found online at http://tvc.texas.gov/tvc/Grants-Awarded.aspx. 64. The Veterans Cash lottery game was established by 2009 Texas Senate Bill 1655. For more about the program, see also Tex. Government Code Ann. §466.027; Texas Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations, The Senate Com-mittee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Report and Recommendations to the 82nd Texas Legislature (Austin: The Senate of Texas, 2010), 22, 39, http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/commit/c650/c650.InterimReport81.pdf; Peggy Fikac, “Sales of Veteran-Themed Lottery Ticket Wane,” Houston Chronicle, Oct. 1, 2012, http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Sales-of-veteran-themed-lottery-ticket-wane-3903950.php. 65. Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (Austin: TVC, 2012), http://www.tvc.texas.gov/Fund-for-Veterans-Assistance.aspx; Tex. Government Code Ann. §434.017. 66.Tex.Admin.Code§§459.1etseq. 67. Nicholas J. Farber and Jaime Rall, Human Service Transportation Coordination State Profile: Wisconsin (Denver: National Conference of State Legislatures [NCSL], 2010), http://www.ncsl.org/documents/transportation/WI-HSTCprofile.pdf; Wiscon-sin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Programs for Local Government: Interagency Council on Transportation Coordination

http://www.veterans.ny.gov/state-benefits.html



http://www2.illinois.gov/veterans/documents/veterans%20benefits2.pdf


http://dmna.ny.gov/vet_mva_prevention.pdf

http://tvc.texas.gov/tvc/Grants-Awarded.aspx

http://tvc.texas.gov/tvc/Grants-Awarded.aspx

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/commit/c650/c650.InterimReport81.pdf

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Sales-of-veteran-themed-lottery-ticket-wane-3903950.php

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Sales-of-veteran-themed-lottery-ticket-wane-3903950.php

http://www.tvc.texas.gov/Fund-for-Veterans-Assistance.aspx


http://www.ncsl.org/documents/transportation/WI-HSTCprofile.pdf



(ICTC) (Madison: WisDOT, 2012), http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/ictc.htm. 68. Farber and Rall, Human Service Transportation Coordination State Profile: Wisconsin; Wisconsin Department of Transporta-tion (WisDOT), Coordination Model (Madison: WisDOT, 2012), http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/model.htm. 69. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Interagency Council on Transportation Coordination (ICTC) (Madi-son: WisDOT, 2012), http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/index.htm. 70. Wis. Stat. §45.41(4). 71.Wis.Stat.§45.83.Detailsoftheapplicationprocess,eligibilityrequirementsandgrantamountsaredescribedinWis.Admin. Code §VA 16.02. 72. Max Dulberger, Finance Committee Provides Cash Infusion To Veterans Trust Fund (Madison: WisconsinDepartment Of Veterans Affairs [WDVA], 2011), http://dva.state.wi.us/LegislativeDocs/JFCProvidesGPRtoVTF051211.pdf; Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, 2011 Wisconsin Act 32 2011-13 State Budget Summary Tables and Charts (Madison: Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, 2011), 11, http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/publications/budget/2011-13-Budget/Docu-ments/2011_07_05%20tables%20and%20charts.pdf. 73. Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), Assistance to Needy Veterans and Family Members (Madison: WDVA, n.d.), http://dva.state.wi.us/Ben-EmergencyGrants.asp. 74. WDVA, Assistance to Needy Veterans and Family Members; Wis. Admin. Code §VA 2.01(1)(k). 75. Wis. Stat. §45.40. 76. Wis. Stat. §15.497(2); Wis. Stat. §45.03(3). 77. Marsha Bracke, State of Alaska Governor’s Coordinated Transportation Task Force Administrative Order 254 Report: February 24, 2012 (Anchorage: Bracke & Associates Inc., 2012), http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/cptab/docs/CTTFfinalreport022412.pdf. 78. Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs, State Benefits (Juneau: Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs, 2010), http://veterans.alaska.gov/state_benefits.htm. 79. California Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle License Fee (VLF) FAQs (Sacramento: State of California, 2011), http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/faq_vlf.htm. See also State Profiles. 80. California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), Vet Services (Sacramento: CalVet, 2010), http://calvet.ca.gov/VetSer-vices/Default.aspx. 81. Ibid. 82. Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council for Transportation Access and Mobility, United We Ride Strategic Action Plan (Denver: Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council for Transportation Access and Mobility, 2006), http://www.unitedweride.gov/Colorado_State_Action_Plan.pdf. 83. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Summary of Veterans Program Grants Awarded to CDOT: November 2011 (Denver: CDOT, 2011), http://www.coloradodot.info/about/committees/trac/Documents/Summary%20of%20Veteran%20Grants%202011; Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council for Transportation Access and Mobility, Handbook for Creating Local Transportation Coordinating Councils in Colorado (Denver: Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council for Transportation Access and Mobility, 2009), http://www.drmac-co.org/pdfs/Local_Coordinating_Council_Handbook.pdf. 84. Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), One Year Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2013 (Denver: DMVA, 2012); DMVA, Veteran’s Trust Fund (Denver: DMVA, 2012), http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DepartmentOfMili-taryAndVeteransAffaris/CBON/1251622454144; DMVA, VTF Grant Awards FY 2012−2013 (Denver: DMVA, 2012). The fund also is mentioned in the FY 2012−13 budget bill (House Bill 1335/2012 Colo. Sess. Laws, Chap. 305). 85. See note 36. 86. Colorado Veterans Transportation Task Force (VTTF), Veterans Transportation Task Force Increasing Transportation Options for Veterans in Colorado [Press Release] (Denver: VTTF, 2012); DRMAC, DRMAC Programs; VTTF, Overview of Task Force. 87. See also Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs, State of Connecticut Benefits Information (Hartford: Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs, 2012), http://www.ct.gov/ctva/cwp/view.asp?a=2005&q=293114. 88. See also Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS), Benefits for Georgia Veterans (Atlanta: GDVS, n.d.), http://vet-erans.georgia.gov/benefits-georgia-veterans. 89. See note 36; additional details came from NCSL Survey, 2012. 90. Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA), State of Illinois Benefits for Veterans (Springfield: IDVA, 2010), http://www2.illinois.gov/veterans/documents/veterans%20benefits2.pdf. 91. See note 36.

92. IDVA, State of Illinois Benefits for Veterans; Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Military Service Pass (Chicago: CTA, 2012), http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/fares/military.aspx. 93. The full text of this legislation is available at http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=4592&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=35257&SessionID=51&GA=95.

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/ictc.htm

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/model.htm

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/model.htm

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/index.htm

http://dva.state.wi.us/LegislativeDocs/JFCProvidesGPRtoVTF051211.pdf

http://dva.state.wi.us/LegislativeDocs/JFCProvidesGPRtoVTF051211.pdf

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/publications/budget/2011-13-Budget/Documents/2011_07_05%20tables%20and%20charts.pdf

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/publications/budget/2011-13-Budget/Documents/2011_07_05%20tables%20and%20charts.pdf

http://dva.state.wi.us/Ben-EmergencyGrants.asp

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/cptab/docs/CTTFfinalreport022412.pdf

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/cptab/docs/CTTFfinalreport022412.pdf

http://veterans.alaska.gov/state_benefits.htm

http://veterans.alaska.gov/state_benefits.htm

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/faq_vlf.htm

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/faq_vlf.htm

http://calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Default.aspx

http://calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Default.aspx

http://www.unitedweride.gov/Colorado_State_Action_Plan.pdf

http://www.unitedweride.gov/Colorado_State_Action_Plan.pdf

http://www.coloradodot.info/about/committees/trac/Documents/Summary%20of%20Veteran%20Grants%202011

http://www.coloradodot.info/about/committees/trac/Documents/Summary%20of%20Veteran%20Grants%202011

http://www.drmac-co.org/pdfs/Local_Coordinating_Council_Handbook.pdf

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DepartmentOfMilitaryAndVeteransAffaris/CBON/1251622454144

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DepartmentOfMilitaryAndVeteransAffaris/CBON/1251622454144

http://www.ct.gov/ctva/cwp/view.asp?a=2005&q=293114

http://veterans.georgia.gov/benefits-georgia-veterans

http://veterans.georgia.gov/benefits-georgia-veterans



http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/fares/military.aspx

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=4592&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=35257&SessionID=51&GA=95

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=4592&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=35257&SessionID=51&GA=95



94. Alice Wheet and Jaime Rall, Human Service Transportation Coordination State Profile: Iowa (Denver: National Conference of State Legislatures [NCSL], 2011), http://www.ncsl.org/documents/transportation/IA-HSTCprofile.pdf. 95. See also Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA), Benefits (Johnston, Iowa: IDVA, n.d.), http://va.iowa.gov/benefits/index.html. 96. See note 36. 97. Kansas University Transportation Center (KUTC), Kansas United We Ride (Lawrence: KUTC, n.d.), http://www2.ku.edu/~kutc/cgi-bin/uwr/index.php. 98. Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA), Trust Fund Accomplishments (Frankfort: KDVA, 2012), http://vet-erans.ky.gov/otherprograms/accomplish.htm; Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA), Veterans Program Trust Fund: Annual Report, 1 July 2010 – 30 June 2011 (Frankfort: KDVA, 2011), http://veterans.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D8AC3FEF-8B18-4705-B351-C9EECD8C8490/0/FINALTrustFundAnnualReport20102011.pdf. 99. See note 36. 100. Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), About the Trust Fund (Annapolis: MDVA, n.d.), http://www.mdva.state.md.us/trustfund/about.html; MDVA, Maryland Veterans Trust Fund (Annapolis: MDVA, n.d.), http://www.mdva.state.md.us/trustfund/MVTF-Brochure.pdf. 101. See note 36. 102. Ibid. 103. Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), For Veterans (Boston: EOHHS, 2012), http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/commissions-and-initiatives/hst/for-veterans.html. 104. See note 43. 105. See also Macomb County, Michigan Has a Veterans Trust Fund (Clinton Township, Mich.: Macomb County, n.d.), http://www.macombcountymi.gov/veterans/trust_fund.htm; Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), Emergency Grants (Lansing: DMVA, 2012), http://www.michigan.gov/dmva/0,1607,7-126-2362-8892--,00.html; Michigan De-partment of Natural Resources (DNR), Veterans Trust Fund (Lansing: DNR, 2012), http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_10871-44121--,00.html. 106. See note 36. 107. See also Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), Minnesota Veterans 4 Veterans (V4V) Trust Fund (St. Paul: MDVA, 2011), http://www.mdva.state.mn.us/v4v/index.htm. 108. Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), 2010 Annual Report (St. Paul.: MDVA, 2010), http://archive.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2012/mandated/120181.pdf. 109. See note 36. 110. 2009 Minnesota House File 1309 (2009 Minn. Laws, Chap. 36); 2011 House File 2a (2011 Minn. Laws, Chap. 3). 111. See note 36. 112. See also New Hampshire State Veterans Advisory Committee, Biannual Report, May 1, 2012, http://nhvfw.org/files/2012/05/SVAC-BiAnn-Rpt-May-12.pdf. 113. Paul Kale, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA), phone conversation with Jaime Rall, July 13, 2012; DMAVA, New Jersey Veterans Guide (Trenton: DMAVA, 2006), http://www.state.nj.us/military/veterans/njguide/Vets-Guide2006.pdf. 114. This appropriation was the same as that provided in the previous budget bill, 2010 New Jersey Senate Bill 3000 (2010 N.J. Laws, Chap. 35). 115. New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA), “Grants Available for Combat Vets from the Divi-sion of Veterans Services,” New Jersey Veteran Journal (Spring 2008), http://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/journal/spring2008/7.html. 116. See note 36. 117. See also State of New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Governor’s FY 2012 Budget: Detailed Budget (Trenton: OMB, 2011), http://www.nj.gov/treasury/omb/publications/11budget/pdf/67.pdf. 118. See note 36. 119. New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs (NYSDVA), State Benefits (Albany: NYSDVA, n.d.), http://www.veterans.ny.gov/state-benefits.html. 120. See also NYSDVA, State Benefits; New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV), Custom Plate Gallery: Military and Veterans (Albany: NYS DMV, n.d.), http://www.dmv.ny.gov/military.htm. 121. New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (NYS DMNA), Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course for Post-Deployment Combat Veterans (Albany: NYS DMNA, n.d.), http://dmna.ny.gov/vet_mva_prevention.pdf. 122. See note 36. 123. North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, State Benefits: Transportation System (Fargo: North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, 2009), http://www.nd.gov/veterans/benefits/transport.html; N.D. Cent. Code §37-14-14.

http://www.ncsl.org/documents/transportation/IA-HSTCprofile.pdf

http://va.iowa.gov/benefits/index.html

http://va.iowa.gov/benefits/index.html

http://www2.ku.edu/~kutc/cgi-bin/uwr/index.php

http://www2.ku.edu/~kutc/cgi-bin/uwr/index.php

http://veterans.ky.gov/otherprograms/accomplish.htm

http://veterans.ky.gov/otherprograms/accomplish.htm

http://veterans.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D8AC3FEF-8B18-4705-B351-C9EECD8C8490/0/FINALTrustFundAnnualReport20102011.pdf

http://veterans.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D8AC3FEF-8B18-4705-B351-C9EECD8C8490/0/FINALTrustFundAnnualReport20102011.pdf

http://www.mdva.state.md.us/trustfund/about.html

http://www.mdva.state.md.us/trustfund/about.html

http://www.mdva.state.md.us/trustfund/MVTF-Brochure.pdf

http://www.mdva.state.md.us/trustfund/MVTF-Brochure.pdf

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/commissions-and-initiatives/hst/for-veterans.html

http://www.macombcountymi.gov/veterans/trust_fund.htm

http://www.michigan.gov/dmva/0,1607,7-126-2362-8892--,00.html

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_10871-44121--,00.html

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_10871-44121--,00.html

http://www.mdva.state.mn.us/v4v/index.htm

http://archive.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2012/mandated/120181.pdf

http://archive.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2012/mandated/120181.pdf

http://nhvfw.org/files/2012/05/SVAC-BiAnn-Rpt-May-12.pdf

http://nhvfw.org/files/2012/05/SVAC-BiAnn-Rpt-May-12.pdf



http://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/journal/spring2008/7.html

http://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/journal/spring2008/7.html

http://www.nj.gov/treasury/omb/publications/11budget/pdf/67.pdf



http://www.dmv.ny.gov/military.htm

http://dmna.ny.gov/vet_mva_prevention.pdf

http://www.nd.gov/veterans/benefits/transport.html



124. See also North Dakota Legislative Council, 62nd Legislative Assembly State Budget Actions for the 2011−13 Biennium (Bismarck: North Dakota Legislative Council, June 2011), http://legis.nd.gov/fiscal/biennium-reports/62-2011/budget-analysis/executive/pdf/statebudgetactions201113biennium.pdf. 125. North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, State Benefits: Hardship Assistance Grant (Fargo: North Dakota Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs, 2009), http://www.nd.gov/veterans/benefits/grant.html. 126. See note 36. 127. See also North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council (Bismarck: North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, 2012), http://www.nd.gov/veterans/council/. 128. See also North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, Administrative Committee on Veterans Affairs (Bismarck: North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, 2012), http://www.nd.gov/veterans/acova/; North Dakota Department of Veterans Af-fairs, North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council. 129. Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA), Veterans’ Emergency Financial Assistance (Salem: ODVA, n.d.), http://www.oregon.gov/odva/Pages/VeteransEmergencyFinancialAssistance.aspx. 130. Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA), Task Force: Veteran Transportation (Salem: ODVA, n.d.), http://www.oregon.gov/odva/TASKFORCE/pages/transportation_tf.aspx. 131. See note 36. 132. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, An Examination of Transportation Services. 133. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Publications: Reports (Harrisburg: The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, 2012), http://www.rural.palegislature.us/publications_reports.html#reports. 134. See also South Carolina Office of Veterans’ Affairs (SCOVA), Veterans Trust Fund of South Carolina (Columbia: SCOVA, n.d.), http://www.oepp.sc.gov/va/trustfund_broch07.pdf. 135. See note 36. 136. Ibid. 137. Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (Austin: TVC, 2012), http://www.tvc.texas.gov/Fund-for-Veterans-Assistance.aspx; Tex. Government Code Ann. §434.017. See also page 17 and accompanying notes. 138. See note 36. 139. See also Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Military and Veterans (Austin: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, 2012), http://www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/license_plates/plate.htm?id=mil. 140. For more information about the Utah United We Ride Workgroup, see Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), 2012 State Management Plan & Policies and Procedures (Salt Lake City: UDOT, 2012), 17, http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uco-nowner.gf?n=10658719307245917. 141. See note 36. 142. See also Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Services Directory: The Vermont Veterans Fund (Montpelier: Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs, n.d.), http://veterans.vermont.gov/ova/programs/vvf. 143. See note 36. 144. See also Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Services Directory: Tax Exemptions for Veterans (Montpelier: Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs, n.d.), http://veterans.vermont.gov/benefits/exemptions. 145. See also Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Military Plates (Richmond: DMV, 2012), https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/exec/vehicle/splates/category.asp?category=M. 146. See also Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), Veterans Innovations Program (Olympia, Wash.: WDVA, n.d.), http://www.dva.wa.gov/Vet_Inn_Pro.html. 147. See note 36. 148. Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), Free or Reduced Rate Passes (Olympia: WDVA, n.d.), http://www.dva.wa.gov/passes.html; Intercity Transit, Regional Reduced Fare Permit for Senior and Disabled Persons: Medical Eligibility Criteria and Conditions (Olympia: Intercity Transit, 2009), http://www.intercitytransit.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/medical-criteria.pdf. 149. Jason Beloso, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), phone conversation with Jaime Rall, Nov. 29, 2012. 150. The full text of all three bills is available through http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/Bill_Status.cfm. 151. Farber and Rall, Human Service Transportation Coordination State Profile: Wisconsin; WisDOT, Programs for Local Govern-ment: Interagency Council on Transportation Coordination (ICTC). 152. See also Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), Transportation to VA Medical Appointments (Madison: WDVA, n.d.), http://dva.state.wi.us/Transportation. 153. Dulberger, Finance Committee Provides Cash Infusion to Veterans Trust Fund; Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, 2011 Wisconsin Act 32 2011−13 State Budget Summary Tables and Charts. 154. See also WDVA, Assistance to Needy Veterans and Family Members. 155. See also Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), Veterans & Military License Plates, Driver Licensing & Vehicle Registration (Madison: WDVA, n.d.), http://dva.state.wi.us/Ben-plates.asp.



http://www.nd.gov/veterans/benefits/grant.html

http://www.nd.gov/veterans/council/

http://www.nd.gov/veterans/acova/

http://www.oregon.gov/odva/Pages/VeteransEmergencyFinancialAssistance.aspx

http://www.oregon.gov/odva/Pages/VeteransEmergencyFinancialAssistance.aspx

http://www.oregon.gov/odva/TASKFORCE/pages/transportation_tf.aspx

http://www.oregon.gov/odva/TASKFORCE/pages/transportation_tf.aspx

http://www.oepp.sc.gov/va/trustfund_broch07.pdf



http://www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/license_plates/plate.htm?id=mil

http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=10658719307245917

http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=10658719307245917

http://veterans.vermont.gov/ova/programs/vvf

http://veterans.vermont.gov/benefits/exemptions

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/exec/vehicle/splates/category.asp?category=M

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/exec/vehicle/splates/category.asp?category=M

http://www.dva.wa.gov/Vet_Inn_Pro.html

http://www.dva.wa.gov/passes.html

http://www.dva.wa.gov/passes.html

http://www.intercitytransit.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/medical-criteria.pdf

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/Bill_Status.cfm

http://dva.state.wi.us/Transportation

http://dva.state.wi.us/Ben-plates.asp



156. See also Wyoming Military Department, Wyoming State Veteran’s Benefits (Cheyenne: Wyoming Military Department, 2009), https://www.wy.ngb.army.mil/benefits/. 157. The full text of this legislation is available through http://www.cnmilaw.org/public_laws17.php. 158. See note 36.

https://www.wy.ngb.army.mil/benefits/

http://www.cnmilaw.org/public_laws17.php

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