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

SMALL URBAN/RURAL PROJECTS

Idaho

Idaho Transportation Department (1722)

Valley Regional Transit (898)

Mobility Manager (1368)

Location: Canyon County (ID)
Type: Information-Based Services/Mobility manager
Goal: Improved access/connections
Service description: Develop mobility management strategies based off of the region's transportation service coordination plan which is intended to fill gaps in service while serving those with disabilities, those of low-income, and older adults. 
Evaluation: Performance measures and evaluation criteria have been developed in the scope of the mobility project. As individual projects are implemented, evaluations of those projects will occur.
Accomplishments: Development of the accessible cab project. Innovative element - ride reimbursements and a voucher program.
Lessons learned: Service has not been implemented - planning only. No lessons learned to date.

Oregon

Oregon Department of Transportation (1723)

Bend, City of aka Bend Area Transit (768)

Bend Area Transit (1609)

Location: Bend (OR)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Fixed route
Goal: Extended hours/ days of service
Service description: JARC funds were used to support the funding of six runs for each of the routes daily, Monday through Friday. The purpose was to increase the system run frequency throughout the day, and for JARC to fund six peak service runs during commuter hours. This service amounts to 7,280 hours of bus service annually and almost 60,000 one way miles.
Route 1: 4.09 miles
Route 2: 5.7 miles
Route 3: 6.84 miles
Route 4: 4.78 miles
Route 5: 6.51 miles
Route 6: 6.22 miles
Route 11: 5.66 miles
Evaluation: In 2006 Bend, Oregon was the largest city in the United States without fixed route transit and JARC funds made it possible to build a system of seven routes without service breaks and with 40-minute headways. We immediately saw an increase in system ridership from 104,000 rides annually to over 350,000 rides with the same revenue hours. A week long on-board survey of riders in July 2007 discovered that 41.98% were riding to work or to seek work. Also, 59% of riders had household incomes of less than $15,000 and 74% earned less than $25,000 per year. This illustrates that our services are targeting the low-income getting to or looking for work.
Accomplishments: 1. Bend Area Transit is delivering over 372,000 trips per year and almost 99,000 of those trips are due to JARC-funded bus service. 2. During this reporting year BAT was able to modify a route to be able to provide direct bus service to the front entrance of WorkSource Bend. WorkSource Bend is the local employment office and workforce training location.
Lessons learned: The JARC program has undergone changes in recent years and based on funding level changes, program reorientation, and non-guarantee of funding there are significant risks to using JARC funds for operations.