By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington-Normal’s public transportation system is defending the way it serves Veterans using the community’s new VA clinic.
Connect Transit put out a news release Wednesday in an apparent response to complaints from Normal Town Council member Stan Nord, who said in a video he posted on social media earlier this month that veterans have to walk too far from the nearest bus stop to the clinic at 207 Hamilton Road.
“Connect Transit is very supportive of our veterans. Several of our employees are veterans themselves and many more have immediate family and friends,” the news release said.
In the video, Nord used a measuring wheel to show the distance between the bus stop and the clinic was 697.8 feet, or about the length of 2 1/2 football fields.
“These are the people that have put their lives on the line for all of us that live in the U.S. They deserve more respect,” said Nord.
Connect Transit said people using the clinic actually have door-to-door service to the clinic.
“The Connect Mobility service will take riders from the front door of their
home to the front door of their destination. This means all Veterans have front door access if they need it,” the agency said.
The transit system noted it waived the application process for veterans needing Connect Mobility service to the clinic. The cost is $1.25 per ride, which is the same for fixed routes on the regular bus.
Connect Transit officials said they held various meetings with local, state, and national veterans organizations about serving the local clinic before it opened last November.
At the bus stop, Connect Transit said it built an ADA compliant shelter and fixed the sidewalk leading to the clinic.
Also defending Connect Transit was Normal Mayor Chris Koos, himself a Vietnam veteran.
“I am also angry that (Nord) would use disabled veterans as a political tool to further his agenda,” Koos said last week in a Facebook post.
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