JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville veteran is making a plea to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to expand a bus route so he can get to the newly opened VA Clinic off Max Leggett Parkway near River City Marketplace.
JTA bus number one is the bus William Dawson's been riding for three years.
"If I have to do something I go by bus," said Dawson.
It gets him everywhere he needs to go from grocery store visits to doctors appointments.
As an Army veteran, Dawson goes to the new VA clinic on Heron Bay Road. It just opened its doors this year. For the last three months, Dawson said it's been hard to get to the clinic. The nearest bus stop to clinic is down the road. It gets him everywhere he needs to go from grocery store visits to doctors appointments.
The nearest bus stop to the clinic is down the road about a mile away.
You still can’t get there by bus, you have to get off by River City Shopping Center and walk there.
"I have to go out there for about everything now and it’s just not convenient," Dawson said.
That’s why Dawson is asking for JTA or the city to expand the route and place a stop at the clinic.
"I feel that enough people take the bus to the VA center that the bus should automatically been extended," Dawson added.
He says he’s reached out the JTA, but feels like more can be done.
We did reach out to JTA about expanding the route and they told us that adjustments to the route are currently being evaluated to service the newly opened clinic.
According to JTA, the adjustments are set to begin in about a year-and-a-half from Jan. 20-26.
JTA said an alternate option for these veterans is the Highlands ReadiRide Extension.