Section 5316: Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Program

1. Section 5316: Job Access and Reverse Commute(JARC) Program U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration SAFETEA-LU Curriculum August 7, 2007

2. Learner Objectives • Provide accurate information, interpretation and guidance to FAQ’s about the JARC Program’s: • Overall intent • Entities eligible for funding • Eligible activities • Required elements for participation • Eligible capital and operations expenses • Support your independent use of JARC Program resource materials • Share knowledge about the JARC Program with FTA Headquarter and Regional staff colleagues

3. Where to find JARC Program Guidance • FTA’s JARC Circular 9050.1 is Available at http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/leg_reg_circulars_guidance.html • Additional Guidance is available at the “Grant Programs” page of the FTA website, http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants_financing_263.html

4. JARC Overview • Targets access to employment and employment related activities for people with lower incomes (below 150% poverty line) • Also supports reverse commute

5. NEW IN SAFETEA-LU • JARC is a formula program based on target population • Under SAFETEA-LU JARC changed from a discretionary to a formula program

6. JARC Overview • Direct apportionment to urbanized areas with population of 200,000 or more • State administered for areas with population under 200,000 • Eligible subrecipients are private non-profits, public entities, operators of public transportation services

7. JARC Eligibility • Capital, planning, and operating funding for: • services designed to transport low-income individuals to and from employment-related activities • reverse commute projects

8. JARC Eligibility • Match ratios: • Capital: 80/20 Federal/local match(90/10 for CAA/ADA required equipment) • Operating: 50/50 Federal/local match • Administration (up to 10% recipient’s total): 100% Federal • Local match may be from other non-DOT Federal funds

9. NEW IN SAFETEA-LU JARC Eligibility • Match ratios: • Planning: 80/20 Federal/local match • Local match may be from other non-DOT Federal funds

10. JARC Services and Programs • JARC funds a number of services and projects • Existing services and projects • New services and projects • Let’s see what we know about the JARC program by completing an exercise

11. Whad’Ya Know? • It’s time for an exercise • Turn to worksheet 1 • Assemble into small teams • Take 10 minutes to answer the questions • Bragging rights await the winning team

12. JARC Eligible Activities • Late-night and weekend service. • Guaranteed ride home service. • Shuttle service. • Expanding fixed-route public transit routes. • Ridesharing and carpooling • Transit-related aspects of bicycling. • Local car loan programs for shared rides

13. JARC Eligible Activities (continued) • Promoting and administering voucher programs. • Acquiring Geographic Information System tools. • Implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems. • Subsidizing the costs of reverse commute routes. • Supporting new mobility management and coordination programs.

14. JARC Designated Recipients • Designated state agency for areas with population under 200,000 • Designed public entity for urbanized areas with population of 200,000 or more • Eligible subrecipients: • private non-profits • public entities • public transportation operators

15. JARC Designated Recipient: Roles and Responsibilities • Competitive selection process • Fair and equitable distribution of funds • Selection of projects from coordinated plan • Certification that local plans were developed with stakeholder involvement • Grant distribution and oversight for subrecipients • Reports to FTA

16. JARC Coordinated Planning NEW Locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan • Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) (urbanized only) • Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) (urbanized only) • Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

17. JARC Competitive Selection • Competitions every 1 to 3 years • Competitive approach and selection criteria determined by designated recipient • Announcement of competition and selected projects by designated recipient

18. JARC Program/State Plan State Management Plan (SMP) • Describes policies and procedures for administering program • May be combined with SMP of other FTA program(s) • Must be approved by and on file with FTA regional office • FTA conducts state management reviews

19. Summary • JARC targets access to __________ and ___________________ activities for people with lower incomes. • JARC also supports ______________ services.

20. Summary 3. JARC has these new provisions under SAFETEA-LU: • JARC is now a __________ program. • ______ activities may now be funded. • Projects must now be derived from a locally _____________________.

21. Summary • Capital projects may be funded up to ___ % with Federal dollars. 5. Operating projects may be funded up to ___ % of the net operating costs of the activity.

22. Summary 6. There are a variety of eligible services and projects under JARC. Name five.

23. Summary 7. Designated recipients for the JARC program can be _________ and _____________. 8. Designated JARC state agencies have many roles and responsibilities. Name five.

24. Summary 9. Projects in urbanized areas must be included in the ________ prepared and approved by the MPO, the ________ approved jointly by the MPO and the Governor, and the ________ developed by a State and jointly approved by FTA and Federal Highway Administration. 10. Competitions may be conducted _______ or at intervals up to _____ years as determined by the designated recipient based on local needs.