Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Program

Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Program is sponsored by Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The JARC program provides funds for projects that transport welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals to and from jobs and activities related to their employment.

Section 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (JARC) & Section 5317 New Freedom Program Department of Transportation Doing Business with NYSDOT SECTION 5316 JOB ACCESS AND REVERSE COMMUTE PROGRAM (JARC) & SECTION 5317 NEW FREEDOM PROGRAM 5316 & 5317 Application Information Finance and Integrated Modal Services > Specialized Transportation > Section 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (JARC) & Section 5317 New Freedom Program Specialized Transportation Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (designed to assist welfare recipients and low income individuals get to work) Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) Program New Formula program, authorized in SAFETEA-LU, designed to assist welfare recipients and low income individuals get to work; 60 percent of funds to major urban areas over 200,000 population; 20 percent to urban areas over 50,000; 20 percent to rural areas under 50,000 population Designated recipients are required to provide funding through a competitive application process that relies on a coordinated planning process to identify strategies that work towards closing gaps in service for target populations Program requires a 50 percent non-federal share for operating and 80 percent for capital projects, however, other non-USDOT federal funds may be used for the required match State operating funds (STOA) and other state funds may also be used as a matching source.

For a total breakdown of funding to the State of New York, please see each metro area or the non-urbanized area The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) serves as the Designated Recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds for the New York Metropolitan Urban area and the non-urbanized area of the State.

This program represents new formula funding to help develop innovative and flexible programs and projects which identify and address the transportation needs of individuals with limited incomes.

Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) Program History The JARC program, from 1999-2004, created in the transportation bill known as the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21 st Century (TEA-21) Legislation, was developed as a national competitive program authorized at $150 million and growing each year over the six-year period. FFY 1999 and FFY 2000 were competitively solicited by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

By FFY 2001, the program had become an exclusive earmark process where the Congress identified recipients for the available funds in each year's appropriation. This program laid the foundation for the JARC formula program in the next legislation and carried many of the requirements of the discretionary program into the new formula program.

NYSDOT had two earmarks and developed a solicitation process for the two years that became the foundation for the approach that NYSDOT is applying to the formula program in SAFETEA-LU. The JARC program under TEA-21 had the following highlights: Each recipient was required to do an area wide plan to identify gaps in transportation services for low-income workers.

The program provided 50 percent Federal funds for capital and operating projects.

Match for the federal funds could be for from other Non-USDOT Federal programs Funds awarded to recipients in the non-urbanized portions of the state were administered by NYSDOT; urban area recipients worked directly with the FTA Section 5317 New Freedom Program (designed to assist individuals with disabilities ) The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) serves as the Designated Recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds that represent new formula programs to help fund innovative and flexible programs and projects which identify and address the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities.

New Freedom (NF) Program Description New formula program, authorized in SAFETEA-LU; designed to assist individuals with disabilities by expanding services over and above current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.

Designated recipients are required to provide funding through a competitive application process that relies on a coordinated planning process to identify strategies that work towards closing gaps in service for target populations. Program requires a 50 percent non-federal share for operating and 20 percent for capital projects, however, other non-USDOT federal funds may be used for the required match.

State operating funds (STOA) and other state funds may also be used as a matching source. Mobility Management Activities require a 20 percent non-federal share.

SAFETEA-LU requires that effective October 1, 2006 (FFY 2007) both JARC and NF programs will require a comprehensive planning and coordinated process that includes transportation planning agencies, public and private transportation providers, non-profit transportation providers, human services providers, other government agencies that administer programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Workforce Investment Act, and Agency on Aging programs, and participation by the public.

The planning process should also include other stakeholders. Please visit the page that contains the Locally Developed Coordinated Plans for each MPO or County in New York State. Department of Transportation Contracting Opportunities Executive Order 31 (EO31) Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Projects in Your Neighborhood Bridge Manuals and Information New Product Evaluation Application Standard Sheets - US Customary