EVANSVILLE — A new pilot program will help disabled veterans ride city busses for free in Evansville.
Mayor Stephanie Terry, Evansville Veterans Affairs Health Care Center and METS have joined to launch “Patriot Pass.” The three-year pilot will offer free bus service to veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%.
The VA assigns percentage ratings based on the severity of a veteran’s disability. That number is based on how the disability decreases a veterans overall health and ability to function.
The pass is good for two years, and will need to be renewed.“One of the best ways we can honor our veterans is by removing barriers that make everyday life harder,” Terry stated in a news release. “Free access to METS gives disabled veterans another tool to stay independent and connected to healthcare, work, and everything else our community has to offer.”
Veterans can register for the pass at the METS Administrative Office, at 601 John St., or the Evansville VA Healthcare Center. There will also be METS officials at the VA Clinic the first Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to offer assistance and talk more about the program.
Forms are also available online to download and then mail to the METS office. A valid photo ID and VA determination letter verifying the disability rating is required.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: New program offers free bus rides for disabled veterans in Evansville
Reporting by Sarah Loesch, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sarah Loesch, Evansville Courier & Press | USA TODAY Network
