FTA 07-03                                                                                         
Contact:  Kristi Clemens
Tel.:       (202) 366-4043
Thursday, March 06, 2003                                                               

DOT Announces $4.5 Million to Tennessee Department of Transportation for Job Access Transportation Service 

            U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will provide more than $4.5 million to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for buses, vans and job access transportation services. 

            “Public transportation is vital in helping people move from welfare to the security and self-sufficiency of jobs,” Secretary Mineta said.  “It is a key element in helping people become fully productive citizens.” 

            FTA Administrator Jennifer Dorn stated, “The FTA is pleased to partner with the Tennessee Department of Transportation in their efforts to provide transit solutions to the elderly, low income, and persons with disabilities, which will allow them to participate more fully in their communities.  This partnership is an example of the FTA’s efforts to promote independence and opportunity through increasing successful coordination of transportation services among human service agencies and transportation providers.” 

Two grants were awarded to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.  

The first grant, in the amount of $1,405,000 will be distributed to nine human resource agencies.  Each agency will provide transportation services to Families First clients in rural Tennessee who have completed training and are now employed.  Low-income persons with a base income of $16,480 or less seeking transportation to their employment are also eligible for the services. 

            The nine rural agencies slated to receive federal funding for job access transportation service are: 

• First Tennessee Human Resource Agency (Johnson City, $145,000)
• East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (Loudon, $200,000)
• Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency (Dunlap, $150,000)
• South Central Development District (Columbia, $125,000)
• Southwest Human Resource Agency (Henderson, $192,500)
• Delta Human Resource Agency (Covington, $92,500)
• Northwest Tennessee Human Resource Agency (Martin, $100,000)
• Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency (Nashville, $200,000)
• Upper-Cumberland Human Resource Agency (Cookeville, $200,000)

The second grant, in the amount of $3,142,696 will be used to purchase two 35-foot replacement buses, six 30-foot replacement buses and 46 Americans with Disabilities (ADA)-equipped replacement vans.  The funds will also be used to purchase communication and safety equipment, bus fare and ADA equipment.

            The Job Access and Reverse Commute program, which is supported by the grants announced today, continues to support agencies all over the country as they help welfare recipients make the transition to employment and help others seeking entry level jobs find and retain work.

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