More than 100 veterans are taking advantage of an anonymous donor who is covering the $30 charge for an annual pass for the T, Durango’s public transit system, so far this year.
Last year, city council set the favorable rate of $30 as the annual pass price for veterans – the pass is much more expensive for everyone else – which was an admirable gesture toward those who served. Then, an anonymous donor stepped up – anonymous to everyone except transit leadership – to pay for 100 passes for veterans. He has done that again, recently, but this time the number is an additional 150.
Sarah Dodson, the assistant director of transportation, said this week that the donor, who is also a veteran, wanted to do something specific, something concrete, for local veterans. That is just what has happened, she said.
While no precise records are kept, Dodson said that multiple conversations between the pass holders and transit drivers make it clear that the veterans are using the free bus rides to reach medical and other services from their residences, and to travel to various Durango locations more frequently than they would otherwise. The veterans’ pass can be used on all the city’s transportation services and routes.
In this case, as in so many others, a relatively small, targeted donation is doing a lot of good. Thanks very much to the anonymous donor.
The purchase of the passes also, in a small way, adds to transit revenue. Durango has an exemplary transit system, including the transit center building at Camino del Rio and 8th Street, largely because of city leadership and some skilled grant writing.
As has been reported, in the coming years the state funding source for transit will be spreading its funds over more municipalities than it is now; that is certain to reduce what Durango has been receiving. Covering veterans’ passes, when some veterans individually might not have purchased a pass, provides a little more revenue.
To obtain a pass at the transit center, a veteran usually shows some service records, especially what is known as a DD 214. But, in at least one case, a photo of a veteran in his uniform was adequate. Transit staff want to do the right thing.
Veteran number 116 received his pass this week, and there are more veterans than that who could use the transit system. Pass the word.
