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For Immediate Release

MTC Approves Over $4 Million in Funding to Expand Low-Income Residents' Transportation Options

CONTACT:

Evelyn Baker
510.817.5753

Joe Curley
510.817.5847

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 31, 2002...Several projects designed to improve mobility for low-income residents of the Bay Area will ring in 2003 with a fresh infusion of cash. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has awarded just over $4 million through its Low-Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) program for 14 separate initiatives that will increase transportation options for low-income persons seeking employment. The commitment includes some $3 million in federal Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) funds administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation plus nearly $1 million in State Transit Assistance (STA) funds.

The 14 projects approved for funding were selected from among 26 applications – requesting a total of more than $9.5 million – submitted in response to a Call for Projects issued by MTC in August 2002. Applicants included a wide range of cities and counties, transit agencies, county social service agencies, and other public entities, as well as joint projects involving public agencies and private nonprofit organizations. LIFT program rules require sponsors to provide local matching funds to cover at least 20 percent of total project costs.

The approved program of LIFT projects includes new and expanded transportation services designed to meet the varied transportation needs of low-income individuals in rural, suburban and urban communities throughout the region. For example, the Commission awarded $72,823 to the city of Rio Vista (Solano County) to create a new vanpool service to help link workers in Rio Vista with job centers in other Solano County cities. City CarShare, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization, was awarded more than $521,000 to expand its fleet of low-cost rental cars into the city’s low-income neighborhoods and to subsidize car-sharing costs for CalWORKS participants who are making the transition from welfare to paid employment.

Other programs approved for funding include:

  • a new low-interest auto loan program for CalWORKS recipients in Contra Costa County;
  • shuttle services to transport children to and from childcare, preschool and after-school programs in the city of Alameda and in Marin, Santa Clara and Solano counties;
  • a pilot program for SamTrans express bus service from East Palo Alto through Menlo Park to the new Millbrae Intermodal Station;
  • additional service on select bus lines operated by AC Transit, the Central Contra Costa County Transit Authority (County Connection) and the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (WHEELS);
  • expansion of Contra Costa County’s Rides to Success demand-response bus system;
  • a program to help low-income families in Sonoma County develop a transportation plan to meet their intermediate and long-range needs; and
  • a new program making bus and Caltrain tickets and passes available to qualified individuals in San Mateo County.


"The services funded by these LIFT grants can make a real difference in people’s lives," said Evelyn Baker, MTC’s project manager for the LIFT program. "Consider Sonya, a working mother of three in Santa Clara County who does not own a car. Sonya faced bus trips of two hours to get herself to work and her children to school and after school. Before enrolling in the Give Kids a LIFT! Program, she was afraid she would have to give up her job because of her kids’ transportation needs. Now, Sonya will be able to retain her job and have the peace of mind that comes from knowing her children will arrive at their after-school program safely and reliably each day."

MTC created the LIFT program to fund transportation projects identified through countywide and regional welfare-to-work plans over the past four years. Examples of eligible LIFT projects include new and expanded public transit services, transportation to child care centers, development of child care facilities at transit hubs, rideshare activities and "guaranteed ride home" programs.

MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

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For a complete of list of projects approved for funding in the current LIFT cycle click here.

For a list of contacts at the various project sponsors click here.

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