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

Type: Trip-Based Services/Demand response
Goal: Expanded geographic coverage
Service description: YCT's JARC program provides employment transportation to supported worksites for individuals with developmental disabilities residing throughout the County. We have integrated the JARC service with our existing demand response service to better serve all individuals. The numerous demand response vehicles all coordinate at our transfer station where some individuals transfer buses to be taken to their final destination. We provide this service Monday-Friday for approximately 90 individuals each day. Service hours are 6 AM -5 PM.
Evaluation: We have evaluated the service using ridership numbers that have remained pretty steady. Being able to move 90+ clients off a client-based system and into the public system was the goal. We are now in the third year of this project and it continues to be a successful situation for all of those involved.
Accomplishments: By working with a local client-based provider to integrate their transportation service into the public transit service this has saved the transit system money and given these passengers freedom to use the public system for recreational purposes, as well. This service ensures that people working nontraditional hours get to work on a regular basis.
Lessons learned: It is important to work closely with the agencies being served so that they can adjust the work schedules to better enable the people using this service to use public transit versus separate, client only transportation.

Washington

Washington State Department of Transportation (1724)

Ben Franklin Transit (639)

Subsidized Vanpool to food processing plants (1072)

Location: Pasco, Richland, Kennewick (WA)
Type: Trip-Based Services/Vanpool (service only)
Goal: Improved access/connections
Service description: The JARC funding was used to help subsidize the start of vanpool groups to local food processing plants. Many of these workers use English as a second language and are in low-income positions. The idea behind the program was to get them introduced to vanpooling so they could experience the benefits and cost savings to vanpooling. Vanpooling wasn’t only a benefit to the employees, but the employers as well. The vans provided safe and reliable transportation for the employees to get to work each day providing a reliable work force.
The JARC funds and local match money paid for half of the groups fares while the remainder of the fares was paid by the riders. Examples of groups are McCain Foods in Othello, WA and Broetje Orchards North East of Pasco, WA.
Evaluation: The groups were monitored like any other vanpool group in that we made sure they had enough riders and collecting the correct amount of fares. Their monthly ridership reports listed the number of riders for the month and daily mileage 
Accomplishments: The program was a success and we have been able to keep a couple of the groups still on the road and we didn’t see the vans close because the money ended. The majority of the groups that closed did so mainly because of lack of work or changes in shift. Those people that were in a van at the time of a closure still work to get a new group stated but due to lack of vehicles at this time we have not been able get groups restarted. We have received requests from other customers and employers to start groups that have seen and spoken with groups that participated in the program.
Lessons learned: Try to remain as flexible as possible. Many of these groups have problems with communication and will need extra staff time to get them up and going but once on the road they didn’t need much assistance. Many of these groups took pride in their van and felt it was a privilege to be able to operate one.