Almost 400,000 veterans live in Massachusetts, and the need for transportation support to access health care and other services is increasing, especially for aging veterans and those with long term injury. This resource sheet from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Human Service Transportation (HST) Office has information for veterans and military families to learn about locally available transportation services. Click on the links below to learn about transportation services available to veterans in Massachusetts.

Here you will find links to resources on:

Public Transit Services

Federal Veterans Administration Transportation Programs

VA Medical Center Transportation Services

Veteran Services with a Transportation Component

Ride Share and Car Share Options

Specialized and Community Transportation Programs

Related Support Services

Other Resources

 

  

In addition to this information, it is also a good idea to check in with Local Veterans' Service Officers (VSO) for assistance. Every city and town in Massachusetts has a VSO to help veterans learn about, apply for, and receive benefits for themselves and their dependents.

Public Transit Services - Try Transit First!

Massachusetts is fortunate to have an extensive public transit network serving most communities within the Commonwealth. Public Transit includes regularly scheduled fixed route services (buses, trains, and trolleys) and ADA Paratransit services for those eligible residents who can’t ride the subway or local fixed route buses due to a disability. ADA Paratransit Service is a shared ride service and must be scheduled in advance. Some transit authorities provide discounted rates or other special services for veterans. Many also provide expanded paratransit service and/or long distance medical trips to hospitals in Boston and Worcester from towns outside the MBTA service area. This brochure includes information about public transit services for veterans in Massachusetts.

Examples of local public transit services helpful to veterans:

  • Cape Cod: CCRTA provides Boston Hospital Transportation four days a week to 15 Boston area hospitals, including the VA. Advance reservation is required and the fare is $15 one way. A general public door-to-door Dial-A-Ride Transportation service is open to all residents and visitors for any purpose (medical, shopping, recreation, etc.) Fares are $3.00 one way or $1.50 one way for seniors and people with disabilities. Check the Boston Hospital Transportation schedule and the Dial-a-Ride schedule for more details.
  • Greater Attleboro-Taunton: GATRA offers a Boston Hospital Bus, MedWheels, and Miles for Health long distance medical transportation programs, including access to area VA hospitals, for eligible residents of certain communities. Check GATRA's special services for more details.
  • Montachusett Area: MART Shuttle service is available to veterans, as well as the general public, to medical facilities in Worcester and Boston, including Bedford VA, Boston VA (Causeway St.), Jamaica Plain VA, and West Roxbury VA. Veterans must schedule 24 hours in advance for complimentary services. See MART's shuttle schedules for schedule and fare details.
  • MetroWest RTA: MWRTA operates a shuttle service for veterans, their families and others who need to travel to the VA hospitals in West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. The shuttle operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the MWRTA transportation hub in Framingham, with a pickup at the Natick VFW Post as well. Fare is $2 each way. Visit Veterans' Hospital shuttle or call 508-820-4650 for additional information or to schedule a trip.
  • Lowell RTA: LRTA offers a medical shuttle on Wednesdays for seniors over 60 and for people with disabilities who qualify for ADA paratransit service. Eligible veterans can ride from Acton, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Groton, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Townsend and Westford to the Bedford VA for $3, to the Lahey Clinic in Burlington for $12.50, and to Boston area hospitals for $25 round trip. For more details see LRTA paratransit services or call (978) 459-0152.

Federal Veterans Administration Transportation Programs

  • Beneficiary Travel: The Veterans Health Administration can authorize reimbursements to eligible beneficiaries for mileage costs, costs for special transportation modes, or, in certain circumstances, the costs of taxis or hired cars to access covered medical care.
  • Automobiles and Special Adaptive Equipment Grants: The Veterans Benefits Administration offers a one-time payment for purchasing a new or used car to accommodate a veteran or service member with certain disabilities or to install adaptive equipment.

VA Medical Center Transportation Services

  • Nathan Hale: Located in Plymouth and Middleboro, the Nathan Hale Center provides regular transportation services to the Brockton and W. Roxbury VA Centers.
  • Soldier On: This nonprofit organization partners with Congressman John Olver’s office to provide medical transportation for veterans in and around Pittsfield, North Adams, Leeds, and Lennox to the Northampton VA, the Albany VA, the Pittsfield VA Outpatient Clinic, and other medical facilities when possible. Veterans can also transfer to other medical shuttles run by the Northampton VA. Service is available free of charge Monday through Friday with advance notice, and rides are provided by volunteer drivers. Call Congressman Olver’s office at (413) 442-0946 to schedule a trip.

Veteran Services with a Transportation Component

  • Veteran Outreach Centers: In addition to counseling and referral, some outreach centers provide transportation services.
  • Veterans Workforce Investment Program: The Veteran’s Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) is a statewide program that addresses the unique needs of veterans seeking employment, training, job counseling and related services. Veterans’ representatives are located in each Massachusetts One-Stop Career Centers and the VWIP program can provide transportation assistance related to finding a job.

Ride Share and Car Share Options

These options are becoming more popular and are worth checking out.

  • Mass RIDES hosts a carpool ridesharing service oriented to regular employee commutes.
  • Ride Buzz is a non-profit ridesharing program based in the Pioneer Valley.
  • Ride Share Directory is a directory of national and regional online ride share sites.
  • Zip Car or Relay Rides are car sharing options operating in parts of Massachusetts.

Specialized and Community Transportation Programs


Related Support Services

  • MassRIDES is the statewide travel options program, with information about carpooling, bicycling, walking, public transportation, teleworking, and vanpooling. Call 888-4COMMUTE
  • Travel Training and Bus Buddy Programs: If you are unsure about trying public transit, several transit authorities and community organizations offer training to help you learn the bus system and be safe and comfortable. Bus buddy programs offer a peer volunteer who will travel with you one or more times.
  • Trip Planning Websites: These can be useful tools to help you map out a trip. Some, like Google Transit, allow you to do point-to-point trip planning as a driver, pedestrian or user of public transportation.
  • Mass211 website or call 211 to find information about local resources, including transportation.
  • The Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services offers a range of services for veterans.

 

Other Resources

 



 

This information is provided by Human Service Transportation Office