Pittenger to attend Charlotte VA Health Care Center Town Hall & Sneak Peek

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN PITTENGER TO ATTEND CHARLOTTE VA HEALTH CARE CENTER TOWN HALL & SNEAK PEEK

CHARLOTTE – Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09) plans to attend today’s “Charlotte VA Health Care Center Town Hall and Sneak Peek” to greet veterans and check on the new bus stop for which he advocated. The event will include tours, a Q&A with VA staff, and an opportunity for veterans to enroll in services. Congressman Pittenger will arrive at approximately 2 p.m. and stay for 30 minutes. 

Local veterans contacted Congressman Pittenger in March 2014 with concerns about the ease of accessibility if there was no bus stop near the entrance of the new VA Health Care Center. Congressman Pittenger looked into the issue, asking CATS whether they planned to locate any bus stop on the facility. Citing a preference to not operate buses in parking lots, CATS said they were not.

Congressman Pittenger then partnered with local veterans to write several letters to CATS, pointing out other situations where CATS runs bus service through a parking lot and offering to help CATS navigate any VA bureaucracy that might be blocking a solution.

In response, CATS reconsidered their earlier decision and confirmed plans to place the bus stop right next to the front door, as close in as they can reasonably access and close enough that disabled veterans can be met by staff and helped in, as necessary.

“As a Congressman, a big part of my job is helping cut through red tape,” said Congressman Pittenger.  “We are grateful that CATS has agreed to place the bus stop close to the front door as this is an enormous benefit and relief for disabled veterans.”

The address for the new Charlotte VA Health Care Center is 3506 W. Tyvola Rd. Charlotte, NC 28208.

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