New Federal Transit Rule Expands Funding for Bus Routes Serving VA Hospitals, Requiring Annual Certification

If you’ve ever tried to navigate public transit to a doctor’s appointment, you know that access isn't just about having a bus stop—it’s about having a route that actually goes where you need it to, especially if that destination is a medical facility. The Connecting Veterans to Care Act of 2025 is a straightforward piece of legislation designed to fix a specific access problem for veterans.

The core of the bill is a change to Section 5307 of the federal transportation code, which deals with financial assistance for public transit operating costs. Currently, transit systems in smaller urban areas (under 200,000 people) can get this funding. This bill expands that eligibility to any public transportation system, regardless of the area's size, if the service specifically services a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility. Essentially, Congress is making sure that getting veterans to their appointments is a priority for federal transit dollars.

The Route to Better Access

This change is a big deal for veterans who rely on public transportation. Think about a veteran living in a major metro area where the VA hospital is miles away from the main transit hub. Without this bill, the local transit agency might prioritize high-traffic commuter routes over a low-ridership route to the VA, simply because the operating costs are harder to cover. This bill provides a direct financial incentive—and the necessary funding—to run that route to the VA facility, making it easier for veterans to access essential care without the stress and cost of private transportation.

Putting the Brakes on Misuse

While the bill opens up the funding spigot, it also includes a crucial accountability measure. Any transit agency that receives this specific financial assistance for servicing a VA facility must submit a certification to the Secretary of Transportation.

This certification must be submitted within 30 days of receiving the initial grant funds and then annually thereafter. What are they certifying? That the funds are actually being used to provide the promised transportation service to the VA facility. This is the bill’s way of ensuring the money goes where it's supposed to—to the bus seat, not just the balance sheet.

The Real-World Penalty

If the Secretary determines that a recipient agency failed to provide the transportation service as certified during a fiscal year, the bill mandates a clear penalty: the suspension of assistance provided under this section for those specific operating costs. For transit agencies, this means if they take the money to run the VA route but then cut the service or let it lapse, they lose the funding earmarked for that purpose. This provision is designed to keep the service reliable for veterans year after year.

Overall, the Connecting Veterans to Care Act is a focused, low-vagueness policy that directly addresses a common barrier to healthcare access. It uses federal transportation funding to solve a federal healthcare problem, and it includes a clear mechanism for accountability, ensuring that the promise of improved access is actually delivered on the ground.