A Navy veteran is practically stuck, after being turned down from the Regional Transportation Commission's Paratransit program.
The Paratransit program helps people who struggle using the regular bus, and this vet says he deserves to be on it, but was turned down.
Doctors at the VA hospital rated Keith Starkey as 80 percent disabled.
He served in the Navy during Desert Storm. But after taking the RTC test to qualify for Paratransit, they turned him down
"Every time I took a step out there for the testing sight, it hurt," said Starkey. "Going down the ramp, it hurt."
The RTC told 13 Action News they would not talk to us on camera.
They sent us a statement that said:
"The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) holds veterans in the highest regard and provides multiple transit services for veterans, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Our Paratransit service is available for those who, through an extensive evaluation process, are found unable to use the rtc’s fixed route system. While our third-party evaluator did not deem Mr. Starky eligible for paratransit service, he has been advised of his right to appeal that decision and the process for making an appeal."
RTC transit services specifically for veterans include the Veterans Medical Transportation Network for Senior and Disabled Veterans (VMTN), the Downtown & Veterans Medical Center express (DVX) and the veterans reduced fare program.
Our VMTN program provides veterans and their families with free rides to and from medical-related appointments, including, but not limited to VA clinics, primary care centers and the veterans medical center. More than 2,000 veterans and their family members are registered for the program, and the RTC provides an average of 2,200 rides monthly.
Additionally, the DVX provides limited-stop transit service between our Bonneville Transit Center in downtown Las Vegas, a park & ride location at the Cannery Casino & Hotel, and the VA Medical Center in North Las Vegas for $2 per trip.
The RTC also offers a veterans reduced fare program where local veterans can apply for an RTC-issued veterans ID card to purchase transit passes at a 50-percent discount on all RTC fixed-route services."
But Starkey said that is not enough. He said getting to the bus stop and getting on and off is too painful and they should be willing to help him.
"I'm hurt, angry," said Starkey, fighting back tears. "It's like we go off and fight for this country and then they just throw us off to the side."
He plans to appeal their decision.
?
