FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, October 14, 2000
Contact: Karen Clarke
Tel.: (202) 366-4043
FTA 19-00

U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today joined President Clinton in announcing $73 million for transit proposals to help former welfare recipients and others needing entry-level jobs in large cities, suburbs and rural areas get to and from growing job opportunities.

"Public transit plays a vital role in helping people move from the dependence of the welfare rolls to the security, pride and self-sufficiency of payrolls," said Secretary Slater. "It is a key element of the Clinton-Gore commitment to helping people move from welfare to work."

The $73 million in funds from the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program will help communities implement 216 transit projects in 39 states and the District of Columbia. The program is an innovative approach to providing transportation -- bringing together transit providers, community organizers, planners and others committed to making the welfare reform initiative work. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration.

These projects, designed to form a link between people in inner cities, small towns and rural areas, who need jobs, and employers who need works are models that communities all across the nation can study and adapt to their own situations.

"This $73 million program will help continue the efforts begun a year ago with the first round of Job Access and Reverse Commuting funding," Acting Federal Transit Administrator Nuria I. Fernandez said. "It will make possible innovative solutions for transportation-to-work needs, such as the Denver Technology Transfer Route that connects low-income residential areas with jobs in the Denver Technology Center, or the Northwest Ohio Commuter Link program that coordinates transit with job placement services."

The Job Access and Reverse Commute program supports agencies all over the country as they help welfare recipients make the transition to employment and independence and as they help others who need entry level jobs find and retain work.

Projects will include new bus or van service; extended bus routes, expanded service hours, or door-to-door service to accommodate shift and weekend workers and workers with non-traditional working hours. They also will include linking workers to jobs near child care and transit facilities; trip mapping; car pooling and van pooling; employer subsidies; and guaranteed rides home in emergency situations. The selected proposals announced today will receive funding upon successful completion of FTA grant application. Under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, signed by President Clinton on June 9, 1998, has authorized $750 million over five years for the Administration’s Job Access initiative and reverse commute grants.

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Briefing Room