Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Plan and Programs
for the NYMTC Region


wheelchair

On June 18, 2009, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) approved a new Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan for the NYMTC Area, which is available on this website (click here). This effort stems in part from SAFETEA-LU, the Federal Transportation Act, which requires that such a plan be in place before services and transportation providers in the region may access certain specific funding programs offered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). These funding programs involve transportation services for persons with disabilities, older adults, and persons with lower income. The Plan is the basis for eligibility and decision-making for grant applications in the NYMTC Region for transportation services to these three populations for the following three FTA programs:

  1. Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) is designed to help welfare recipients and low income individuals travel to job opportunities, job training and other employment-related services, and to address reverse commuting needs. The JARC Program funds may be used for capital expenses with Federal funds providing up to 80 percent of the cost of the project, or operating expenses with Federal funds providing up to 50 percent of the cost of the project.
  2. New Freedom is a program to help fund new public transportation services and public transportation alternatives beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) that assist individuals with disabilities with transportation, including transportation to and from jobs and employment support services.
  3. The 5310 program helps not-for-profit organizations that serve the elderly and persons with disabilities fund the purchase of buses. The program funds 80% of the vehicle purchase cost.
  woman boarding vehicle

By improving efficiency and reducing service redundancies, coordination ultimately enables community transportation providers to meet more of the growing demand and unmet needs, and help expand mobility options for the three target populations. The Plan includes information on community transportation programs and services in the region to help facilitate coordination of services. It identifies trip patterns and travel needs for the three target population groups, and addresses specific area travel needs and strategies.

The Plan has a regional component and three subregional plans, each of which can stand on its own. The three subregions are: New York City; Long Island (covering Nassau and Suffolk counties); and the Lower Hudson Valley (covering Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester counties). Within each subregional plan, inventories of services, service duplication, travel patterns and unmet needs were identified on a county-by-county basis. The introduction and prioritization of strategies was documented on a subregional basis, with strategies applicable only within certain counties noted as such. Applicants applying for funding under any of the three FTA programs listed above, must reference the specific area/need in the Coordinated Plan that their project will address.