1

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

U.S. Department of TransportationFederal 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

• JARC is a formula program based on target population

• Under SAFETEA-LU JARC changed from a discretionary to a formula program

NEW IN SAFETEA-LU

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

JARC Eligibility

• Match ratios:

– Planning: 80/20 Federal/local match

• Local match may be from other non-DOT Federal funds

NEW IN SAFETEA-LU

10

• 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

JARC Services and Programs

11

• 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

Whad’Ya Know?

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

Locally developed, coordinated public transit-humanservices 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

1. JARC targets access to __________ and ___________________ activities for people with lower incomes.

2. 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

4. 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.