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

Location: Counties of Marion and Polk (OR)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Fixed route
Goal: Expanded geographic coverage
Service description: Route 1X – Salem Express - Route operates weekdays only; Major areas covered includes Salem Capitol Mall, Northeast Park & Ride lot, and Wilsonville major business district. 
Evaluation: All routes receiving JARC funding are monitored on a monthly basis to evaluate trends in ridership. Evaluation includes comparison to previous months and annual comparisons.
Accomplishments: On September 8, 2009 Salem Area Mass Transit District enacted a complete redesign for the delivery of public transit service in the Salem-Keizer area. This is the first total redesign that has taken place in the 30-year history of the Transit District. The delivery of service on Route 1X was not impacted by the redesign. The Transit District is pleased that within six months of the rollout of the new transit service design, ridership is back to pre-redesign numbers.
Lessons learned: Route 1X has been so successful that SMART (the system in Wilsonville that shares in providing the service on this route) added another daily trip to the schedule. On February 2, 2009 the Westside Express Service (WES) (Washington County Commuter Rail) began revenue service that connects directly with Route 1X at Wilsonville. It was anticipated that this would increase ridership to the 1X, however, the WES line has not been as successful as TriMet in Portland anticipated.

Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (1728)

Clackamas County Social Services (500)

Catch-a-Ride (445)

Location: Oregon City, Milwaukie (OR)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Fixed route
Goal: Improved access/connections
Service description: The Catch-A-Ride program combines the resources of three agencies to both provide essential transportation services to qualified low-income individuals and to provide a work training program for drivers and clerical/dispatch. The program represents a partnership between Clackamas County Social Services, Community Solutions of Clackamas County (CSCC), and The Volunteer Connection, who run the Transportation Reaching People (TRP) program. Surveys, outreach, and pilot projects (TRP Hopper Service/Commuter Service which operated from 11/04 to 10/05) show that the low-income residents of Oregon City and Milwaukie are underserved by regional transportation providers and require additional services to allow them access to jobs, school, childcare, medical and service appointments, and shopping for basic needs. The Catch-A-Ride program is specifically designed to provide connectivity to fixed route transit and other services for the residents of public housing in Oregon City and Milwaukie.
Evaluation: The program is evaluated based on several performance measures, including number of rides delivered, turned down rides, and compliments and complaints.
Accomplishments: This program includes a driver-training component in coordination with several other agencies. Trainees leave the program with skills in general office support, customer service, scheduling, dispatch and driver training. This program is unique in our area.
Lessons learned: The key to operating a program like this successfully is being able to connect with other agencies serving the same populations. The level of service coordination should be high and should include thoughtful consideration of other program needs and services.

Clackamas County Travel Trainer (444)