FTA Section 5316 - Job Access / Reverse Commute

Purpose: Improve access to employment and employment related activities for low-income individuals and welfare recipients through transportation services.

Overview: Eligible uses include: Capital, planning and operating assistance that target low-income individuals to provide transportation to employment and employment related activities as well as facilitate reverse commuting. 

Program Features & Facts:
· Eligible Activities include late-night / weekend service, guaranteed ride home programs, work shuttle services, expanding existing fixed route transportation and ridesharing /carpooling activities.
· 10% of the apportionment may be used for program administration to include planning and technical assistance.
· Capital and planning match is 80/20
· Operating match is 50/50.
· All match funds must come from sources other than Federal DOT funds. Federal funds from other agencies, for example Department of Health and Human Services, may be an eligible match for this program.
· All projects must be selected through a competitive process.
 

FTA Section 5317 - New Freedoms

Purpose: New Freedoms funding assists in meeting transportation needs of persons with disabilities, aged, and other transportation–dependent who were beyond the normal reach of the Section 5310 and other federally funded programs.

Overview: All New Freedoms money is presently disbursed to Wyoming independent Living organizations to utilize in their statewide check/voucher program. Without this program, many transportation–dependent individuals in Wyoming would be unable to access many of the services and social activities that are routinely available to the general public.
 
Background: Wyoming Independent Living Rehabilitation (WILR) of Casper and Wyoming Services for Independent Living (WSIL) of Lander are two organizations involved with the state’s transportation-dependent populations. Due to this, they have been awarded New Freedoms funds and other public transit monies to work a voucher program covering the entire state. The organizations reach out to the people who live outside the normal reach of the senior citizen and public transportation programs. Checks or vouchers are issued to disabled and low-income ride-needy individuals to use to contract for rides. When available, Public transit providers are often used in the voucher program, generally within municipalities.
 
Program Features & Facts:
· WILR and WSIL are aggressively seeking people who need their servies and are utilizing New Freedoms vouchers to provide rides.
· It is anticipated that other health and social services will see the merit in the program and that additional funds can be raised to augment the transportation program.
· The New Freedoms program is a key component of Wyoming’s Coordinated Transportation Initiative.
· Individuals who are eligible for the voucher program must have a documented disability and an identifiable barrier to transportation.
 
 
 

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The State of Wyoming received about $9.3 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for Capital Assistance to transit systems in the state. WYDOT will administer about $7 million to assist transit programs statewide. The remaining $2.3 million will be split among the urban communities of Casper and Cheyenne based upon the FTA formula for Urbanized Area Transit Funding. 

ARRA Recipient List