Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) Program fy 2009 Service Profiles Region X alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington October 2010 fta-08-0162 Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) fy 2009 Service Profiles: Region X

Coastal Community Action Program (641)

Coastap Community Action Program JARC (702)

Location: Grays Harbor and Pacific counties (WA)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Flexible routing
Goal: Expanded geographic coverage
Service description: Our JARC-funded service occurred for only nine months of fiscal year 2009. In June of 2009 we began operating entirely on a state funded grant. We provide transportation to and from employment and educational sites to low-income and disabled individuals who live/work outside of the geographic/time parameters of the local transit authority. We serve two counties that are low population and have density areas separated by several miles. The daily "routes" are determined in advance by the scheduler and we usually have 3 - 4 drivers operating in a day. We offer our service 24/7 in as much as our budget will allow.
Evaluation: Each month we track the number of rides, miles driven, etc/ and compare to past performance and seasonal (school breaks, tourist highs and lows, etc...) issues to ensure we are at or above the goals as stated in the grant application. We consistently meet or exceed our goals.
Accomplishments: Consistently meeting goals.
Lessons learned: Plan ahead. It is natural to have a slow start as the program gets off the ground and it becomes better known among qualified riders. Plan spending and time budgets based on full or near full capacity 

Grant Transit Authority (644)

Express, fixed route commuter services from Ephrata/Moses Lake to Othello and Warden production plants (1110)

Location: Grant and Adams counties (WA)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Fixed route
Goal: Expanded geographic coverage
Service description: Route 61 Moses Lake/Warden/Othello. This project provides necessary transportation for low-income workers accessing jobs at agriculture processing plants where employee availability is low due to population where the plants are located. This transportation helps strengthen the economy of the communities served by increasing employment opportunities (transportation to work) and promotes self-sufficiency of minimally skilled low-income work force. This service opens doors for workers who couldn't otherwise work at these locations due to the inability to purchase or obtain other means of transportation.
Evaluation: This project is evaluated on ridership statistics. Ridership regarding this project remains steady based on the cyclical nature with agriculture seasons that the processing plants operate throughout the year.
Accomplishments: Coordinating service with the various processing plant locations and shift schedules is ongoing. GTA attempts to provide appropriate coverage with the level of funding allocated for this project.
Lessons learned: Communication is a crucial element from start-up to the delivery of on-going services.