The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act, a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), enacted in August 2005, provides funding for Federal surface transportation programs through FFY2009, including the Section 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) and Section 5317 New Freedom (NF) programs.  The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), as the designated recipient is responsible for overseeing and administering the JARC/NF Programs in northeastern Illinois including the development of an annual Program of Projects (POP).  

The northeastern Illinois region includes the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and Kendall.  Projects in the POP must be competitively selected and derived from the Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan (HSTP) that was adopted by the RTA Board of Directors in October 2007. 

Entities eligible to apply and receive funding under the 2009 JARC/NF Programs include the following:

• Private Non-profit Organizations
• State or Local Government Authorities
•  Public and Private Operators of Public Transportation Services

Applicants may not apply to both the JARC/New Freedom and ICE programs for the same project.

JARC ELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

The Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program was established to address the unique transportation challenges faced by welfare recipients and low-income persons seeking to secure and maintain employment.  With many new entry-level jobs located in suburban areas, low-income and/or welfare recipients have found it difficult to access these jobs from the inner city, urban and rural neighborhoods on a daily basis.  Further, many entry-level jobs require working late at night or on weekends when conventional transit services in many communities are either reduced or non-existent.  Finally, many employment-related trips are complex for low-income persons, often involving multiple destinations, including reaching childcare facilities and other services as part of the trip.

With these challenges in mind, the goal of the JARC program is to improve access to transportation services to employment and related activities for welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals and to transport residents of urbanized and non-urbanized areas to suburban employment opportunities.  Activities related to employment might be educational opportunities or training that directly contributes to job attainment. Toward this goal, the RTA JARC Program provides financial assistance for transportation services planned, designed, and carried out to meet the transportation needs of eligible low-income individuals and of reverse commuters regardless of income.  Access to funds from this program requires coordination with federally-assisted programs and services in order to make the most efficient use of federal resources.  Examples of such projects include fixed-route services oriented to reverse commuters and/or at times specific to access lower wage jobs; shuttle services to/from rail stations; ridesharing activities such as vanpool or carpools, and mobility management efforts. 

JARC Eligible Projects (PDF)

 

NEW FREEDOM ELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

The purpose of the New Freedom program is to provide new public transportation services and public transportation alternatives beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that assist individuals with disabilities with transportation, including transportation to and from jobs and employment support services.  The New Freedom formula grant program aims to provide additional tools to overcome existing barriers facing persons with disabilities who seek integration into the work force and full participation in society, noting that lack of transportation is a primary barrier to work for individuals with disabilities. 

Thus, the RTA New Freedom Program seeks to reduce barriers to transportation services and expand the transportation mobility options available to persons with disabilities beyond the requirements of the ADA.  Examples of public transportation services that go beyond the ADA requirements include expansion, spatially or temporally, beyond what is minimally required; the provision of same-day service; door-through-door service; vehicles and equipment that accommodate larger mobility aids; feeder services; accessibility improvements at non-key stations; and travel training.  New initiatives may include the purchase of accessible vehicles for accessible taxi, ridesharing and/or vanpooling programs; administration of new voucher programs; the support of new volunteer driver/aide programs and; development of new mobility management and coordination programs among public transportation providers and other human service agencies providing transportation. 

New Freedom Eligible Projects (PDF)   

JARC/NEW FREEDOM FUNDING

The amount of funding available for the FFY 2009 Program is estimated to be:

Entities eligible to apply and receive funding under the 2009 JARC/NF Programs include the following:

• Private Non-profit Organizations
• State or Local Government Authorities
• Public and Private Operators of Public Transportation Services

A local match is required for all projects.  Local match requirements are 20% for capital projects and 50% for operating projects.  The potential for sustainability and self-sufficiency beyond the grant period will be a major determining factor for operating projects.  In order to achieve the most benefit with available resources, project readiness will be considered for all project types.  

Applicants should also keep in mind that JARC/New Freedom funding is start-up money.  Projects are expected to continue to operate with other funding sources once JARC/New Freedom funds are expended.