U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said this week that the Jacksonville Transportation Authority will receive $50,000 to promote a website to help military veterans.
The JTA is developing the site to help military veterans find affordable rides to work, school, shopping, medical care and other destinations.
LaHood announced the grant Monday as part of $29 million in Federal Transit Administration funds to assist veterans through the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative.
The grants will support 64 projects in 33 states and the Northern Mariana Islands, he said.
“Ensuring that our veterans and military families have access to quality, convenient transportation is just one way we can thank them for their service,” LaHood said in a conference call to discuss the grants.
“With these transportation grants, we will help connect veterans and military families with the jobs and training opportunities they deserve, as well as the medical care and other services they need, all located close to home,” he said.
The JTA is developing the Northeast Florida “One-Call/One-Click” Transportation Resource Center that will allow veterans to access immediate information about transit services through a single call or a single visit to a Web page.
Services include support organizations, social service agencies, car and van pools, volunteer driver programs, bicycles, walking information and taxis.
“It’s similar to people using a travel website to arrange flights, hotels and rental cars. The site could be utilized by vets arranging transportation to the VA hospital in Gainesville,” said John Finotti, spokesman for JTA.
JTA received a $1.9 million grant in November to develop the site.
The authority plans to meet with disabled veterans about the services they want the site to promote. The second phase will be to survey people who will use the service followed by rollout of the site, tentatively expected in September 2013.
The call center and website will provide information about services in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
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