Reston, VA – MAY 5, 2021 – The Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA) and the Northern Virginia Veterans Association (NOVA Veterans) have been awarded federal funding for a joint project to provide veterans who are disabled or over 65 with transportation to COVID-19 vaccination appointments. While vaccination availability has increased, an escalating critical transportation crisis is preventing our most vulnerable veterans from getting vaccinated. This is particularly problematic for those veterans who receive their medical care from distant Veterans Administration medical facilities and are without reliable transportation.

 

This project was chosen for funding under the Federal Transit Administration’s allocation in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), by the National Capitol Region Transportation Planning Board.

 

The program will provide round-trip, no-cost taxi service to COVID-19 vaccination appointments for eligible veterans who NOVA Veterans helps, including those who need wheelchair accessible transportation.

 

NOVA Veterans President and CEO Angela McConnell explained that 2019 U.S. Census data showed "the projected service area for this project includes over 142,000 veterans, and of those 65 and older, more than 26% are disabled.” McConnell added "NOVA Veterans’ targeted clientele is almost exclusively those veterans who are disabled and/or elderly, so we plan to help as many veterans as possible starting with those whom we are already assisting.”

 

"We’re ecstatic that our transportation know-how can help those who have served our nation get the vital care they desperately need,” said DATA Mobility Manager Luke Frazza. "We worked with NOVA Veterans to ensure this project will help those veterans who are most isolated get their vaccines, so they can re-emerge from their homes and once again interact with their community.” 

 

For transportation, contact NOVA Veterans: 703-659-0788, melissa@novavets.org.