A community's service to its veterans is a reflection of its values and conscience. The veterans in Rochester, NY once thrived on the convenience and security of a bus stop at our Veteran Affairs (VA) Outpatient Clinic on Calkins Road. We relied on it for a safe commute to our crucial medical care, and today, this access has been denied. The current bus route sidelines us to Marketplace Mall, stopping ~1.5 miles away from the VA Clinic. From that said stop, there are no adequate sidewalks to walk to the VA Clinic up via Hylan Drive and Calkins Road, leaving them to negotiate a dangerous path where accidents almost happen three times as often. This danger is especially hard on our disabled brothers and sisters, who face an even more precarious commute. 

This current situation ignores the needs and sacrifices of veterans who rely on public transportation to access healthcare. According to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization, thousands of veterans miss necessary medical appointments due to lack of transportation. Given that nearly 45% of veterans enrolled in the VA system are aged 65 or older, providing reliable, safe transportation options is paramount. There are limited transportation programs in place that give veterans free bus passes, yet veterans are denied front door drop off to one of the most crucial stops. Rideshare programs from organizations like the DAV or Compeer CORPS are limited due to driver shortages and scheduling conflicts, which in turn makes it impossible to ensure those that need transportation can get transportation. This bus stop would immediately alleviate transportation insecurity. 

No veteran shall be left behind. Especially, when it comes to adequate access to safe and secure transportation. Removing this bus stop may seem like a trivial matter to some, but to the many veterans who rely on this service for their healthcare needs, it is a major issue. We request New York State, County of Monroe, the City of Rochester, Regional Transit Service, and the VA Outpatient Clinic to take immediate steps to reactivate this bus stop. By doing so, the city will ensure that veterans, many of whom are elderly or disabled, will have safe and easy access to their healthcare appointments.

Please sign our petition and ensure our veterans can safely commute to their appointments.

*Pictured: Monroe County Legislator Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons, who took the current bus route and walked up to the VA to their bus stop sign with no active bus stop available