DVRPC Board Adopts First Regional Job Access & Reverse Commute Transportation Plan.

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 1999--

Over $1.8 million has been designated to help fund transportation services and other supportive activities that facilitate access to jobs for welfare and lower income persons, as well as reverse commute trips for the general population within the Delaware Valley.

A total of $75 million was available, nationwide, for the Competitive Grant Program in FY 1999. This funding is a result of a five-year initiative administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) entitled the Job Access and Reverse Commute Competitive Grant Program.

This program is one of many included under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). TEA-21 emphasizes a more balanced transportation system and the environmental and social consequences of these investments.

As the region's metropolitan planning organization (MPO), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) developed a Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan which was formally adopted by the DVRPC Board last week. DVRPC was required to review potential applicants and projects for this program.

Evaluation was accomplished by utilizing a six-point Regional Access to Jobs Strategy, included in the newly adopted plan. The six key elements of the strategy include:

-- Promoting transit affordability; -- Promoting job retention with transportation-related support

services; -- Expanding transit education to increase ridership; -- Improving accessibility with new transportation and ridesharing 

initiatives; -- Promoting long-term viability of new transportation services; -- Developing ways to promote more effective access to jobs

coordination.

Through DVRPC's efforts, fifteen projects were ranked as high priority for FY 1999 funding three projects in New Jersey totaling $515,000; eleven projects in Pennsylvania totaling $1,323,576; and one regional project valued at $97,305.

DVRPC's Associate Director for Regional Planning, Richard G. Bickel adds, "The adopted plan provides a solid foundation for developing a variety of transportation services and support projects that meet the goals of the new grant program. DVRPC is looking forward to assisting in the review and preparation of the Fiscal Year 2000 project proposals later this year."

The Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan will be evaluated at least annually in conjunction with the application process for the FTA's Program and DVRPC's ongoing Planning Work Program activities.

DVRPC serves as the official planning and review agency for the nine-county metropolitan area that includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties in New Jersey.

Through data collection, research, coordination, and planning efforts, DVRPC sets a framework for governmental decisions affecting development within the Delaware Valley.