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: King County (WA)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Vanpool (service only)
Goal: Improved access/connections
Service description: This program provided low-income workers access to Metro's Vanpool fleet. Individuals either join an existing vanpool or a new vanpool is formed. The fares are matched either by the employer or the employee. The individuals are screened for job classification, hours, and other indicators to insure that they are qualified for the JARC support.
Evaluation: We collected trip usage as part of the invoicing system.
Accomplishments: This program was able to respond to a specific need with a creative program to get folks to work at a site that was not well served by transit. The program was able to allow low-income individuals to have access to a transportation mode that was shared by higher paid staff.
Lessons learned: We used all the resources of our agency to meet a need. Having a good relationship with our vanpool operators was the key.

King County Work Training Program (143)

King County Work Training Program (497)

Location: King County (WA)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Demand response
Goal: Improved access/connections
Service description: Provides van service to various King County Work Training programs. Programs include summer youth programs, vocational outreach, and other displaced worker programs.
Evaluation: Monthly reports are included in request for reimbursement. The data collected include cost, miles driven, hours in service, number of people served, and number of trips.
Accomplishments: The program has been expanded to address underserved populations through a collaborative outreach effort. It has had the ability to respond to summer youth training, to 'green remodel training' programs, and other limited time efforts to train and employee individuals in the county.
Lessons learned: Encouraging the partner agency to continue to work on recruitment of new drivers will result in a more stable program. Since the drivers often are the first to get hired away, having a program in place to bring new drivers on is critical to sustaining the program and to serve the clients.