Free Bus Passes for Vets in Connecticut

0:00It's April 23rd, Hartford News Today starts now. AI powered and ready, I'm Cory with the story. Connecticut veterans are on the verge of scoring free bus passes statewide, thanks to new budget proposals. Governor Ned Lamont and lawmakers are pushing $2.5 million for half-priced fares on CT transit buses, building on a bill passed last year. They're going further with $1 million to make rides completely free for all vets, noticeability required. If it passes, Connecticut could be the first state to offer this everywhere, not just locally. Last session, that half-priced law for veterans and K-12 students slip through without funding, leaving folks high and dry. Now both the Governor's plan and the Assembly's Appropriations Committee are fixing that oversight with solid cash allocations to the Department of Transportation. Veterans like Vietnam vet Robert Lyck from East Windsor struggle to reach VA centers in Newlington without nearby stops. Advocates say transportation blocks access to jobs, medical care, food pantries, and even social spots that boost mental health.

1:07Nationwide, the VA reports 1.8 million canceled appointments yearly due to transit woes costing $4.4 billion. For homeless vets, $174 counted in Connecticut last year, buses means staying warm and mobile during the day. Lawmakers and leaders are all in, House Speaker Matt Ritter can't imagine a no vote, and Lamont calls it away to honor service. The Department of Veterans Affairs and DOT are prepping applications now, eyeing veteran IDs for easy verification to avoid red tape. Details are firming up for a July 1st launch across CT transit, CT Bass Track, and local districts. This could unlock real independence, paving the way for more vet support down the line.