Morris County has been awarded a $543,000 grant by the federal Department of Transportation to create a resource center that veterans can contact by phone or online to connect with existing transportation programs.
Goals of the program include improving access to the Veterans Administration Healthcare Centers at Lyons and in East Orange, and the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Morris Township.
“The One-Click/One-Call Transportation Resource Center will update the current technologies used by MAPS [the Morris Area Para-Transit System], to enable the county to offer additional assistance through computerized telephone services, including the ability to make and cancel trips and receive automated trip reminders,” Freeholder Hank Lyon, freeholder liaison to the county human services department, said in a statement.
All MAPS riders should benefit from the technology upgrades, according to the freeholders. Here is their full statement.
FROM THE MORRIS FREEHOLDERS:
MORRIS RECEIVES GRANT FOR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FOR VETERANS
The Morris Area Para-Transit System, part of the county’s Department of Human Services, has been awarded a $543,000 grant to develop a One-Click/One-Call Transportation Resource Center to coordinate local transportation services for veterans in the Morris County area.
“The idea is to help veterans, military families and others connect to jobs and services in their communities by improving access to local transportation options,” said Freeholder Director Tom Mastrangelo.
A major goal of the Transportation Resource Center is to improve access to the Veterans Administration Healthcare Centers at Lyons and in East Orange, and the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Morris Township.
“The One-Click/One-Call Transportation Resource Center will update the current technologies used by MAPS to enable the county to offer additional assistance through computerized telephone services, including the ability to make and cancel trips and receive automated trip reminders,” said Freeholder Hank Lyon, freeholder liaison to Human Services.
The Transportation Resource Center will also have a web portal for information and reservations; mobile data computers and vehicle location software; fixed route information and integration to provide wider trip options; and scheduling software for municipal Dial-A-Ride programs to improve coordination of trips throughout the county.
MAPS expects the technology upgrades will benefit all MAPS riders, and will provide “one-to-one” personalized assistance to veterans currently unable to access transportation.
Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen said by awarding this competitive grant to the Morris County Department of Human Services, the U.S. Department of Transportation has recognized Morris County’s strong commitment to America’s veterans and their families.
“The new Transportation Resource Center will make it much easier for area veterans to get specific information about local transportation and other services, Frelinghuysen said.
“All it will take is a simple phone call or click of a mouse to access the information they need about the services they have earned. I congratulate the Morris County Freeholder Board for this special recognition. ”
