Open Plains Transit (OPT) is pleased to announce it has been approved for funding through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Highly Rural Transportation Grants Program.
OPT will be the Nebraska Coordinator for all thirty-nine eligible counties within Nebraska.
OPT Director Kusek and Prairie Hills Transit (Spearfish, SD) Executive Director Barb Cline have signed a memorandum of agreement that will run through September 30, 2025. Prairie Hills Transit has been providing veteran transportation for counties in South Dakota and Wyoming for several years.
With the expansion of transportation services, OPT and Prairie Hills Transit are set to significantly impact the lives of Highly Rural Veterans. Approximately 35.3% of enrolled Veterans live in rural and highly rural areas, facing challenges in accessing the quality medical care they deserve. Distance and transportation are often cited as the most common obstacles.
More information will be located on the OPT website, www.optne.com, as it becomes available, or interested agencies can contact Director Kusek for more information.
The Nebraska OPT Veterans Transportation Program has begun with a soft start and is scheduled to officially begin October 28, 2024.