TEA-21 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century Moving Americans into the 21st Century
	Fact Sheet
	TEA-21 Home | DOT Home | Fact Sheet Index

JOB ACCESS AND REVERSE COMMUTE GRANTS
Year	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Authorization	0	0	$150M	$150M	$150M	$150M	$150M
Guaranteed	0	0	$50M	$75M	$100M	$125M	$150M

Program Purpose

The Access to Jobs Program provides competitive grants to local governments and non-profit organizations to develop transportation services to connect welfare recipients and low-income persons to employment and support services. [3037]

Program Features

A coordinated transportation/human service planning mechanism is required to develop Access to Jobs programs; transit agencies must approve these programs.

Also authorizes a reverse commute program, to provide services to suburban employment centers from urban centers, rural areas and other suburban locations.

• Directed to making suburban connections for all populations.

• Criteria for selection include the need for additional services as identified in the transportation plan and the extent to which services will address these needs.

Funding Features

Split funded from both the Mass Transit Account and General Funds.

Guaranteed funding (Mass Transit Account & general revenues) increases from $50 million in 1999 to $150 million in 2003.

Not more than $10 million per year may be used for reverse commute activities.

Provides 50% Federal share.

Other Federal transportation-eligible funds could be used to meet the local match including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Welfare to Work funding for Access to Jobs projects.

Grant Award Criteria

• the percentage of population that are welfare recipients

• the need for additional services

• coordination with and the use of existing transportation providers

• coordination with State welfare agencies implementing the TANF program

• use of innovative approaches, the presence of a regional plan and long term financing strategies and consultation with the community to be served.

Eligibility for Funding

Makes local governments and private non-profit organizations eligible for discretionary grants for operating and capital expenses for Jobs Access transportation service.

Funds promotion of employer-provided transportation, use of transit for non traditional and transit voucher programs.

MPOs would designate applicants in areas above 200,000 population; States (State's chief executive officer) would designate applicants in areas 200,000 population or lower.

September 14, 1998