As the designated recipient of the 2006 federal Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom (NF) Programs funds, the RTA initiated a collaborative planning process with the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS), the Service Boards, and region-wide stakeholders to identify projects for the 2006 program.

A “Call for Projects” was released on August 11, 2006 and project applications were due on November 1, 2006.  Twenty-six applications were received totaling approximately $13 million in requested federal funding.  Locally, there was approximately $5.1 million available between the JARC and New Freedom Programs to fund projects.  The projects received the endorsement of the CATS Work Program Committee and the joint Community Mobility Task Force and the Task Force for Persons with Disabilities Committees.  On December 15, 2006, the RTA Board approved the FFY 2006 Program of Projects.