The Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) is seeking applications for from public agencies, private non-profit corporations, and private providers of public transportation for the Boston Urbanized Area Job Access and Reverse Commute (Section 5316) and the New Freedoms (5317) grant programs that were authorized under the provisions set forth in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

JARC (5316) program funds are available for capital and operating expenses that improve access to transportation services to employment and employment related activities for welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals and to transport residents of urbanized areas and nonurbanized areas to employment opportunities.

New Freedom (5317) program funds are available for capital and operating expenses that support new public transportation services beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and new public transportation alternatives beyond those required by the ADA. Eligible projects will enable individuals with disabilities to fully participate in their communities. 

Eligible applicants include private non-profit organizations, local public bodies, and operators of public transportation services, including private operators of public transportation services. Furthermore, under SAFETEA-LU, to receive program funding in FFY 2008, federal program grantees (New Freedom and JARC) must certify that approved projects were derived from a "locally developed coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan.” The OCPC has developed an Old Colony Human Services Coordination Plan and is conducting this solicitation as a component of a competitive selection process. Projects in the Boston Urbanized Area (includes communities of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, and Whitman) will be selected for funding through the aforementioned competitive process. Recipients of these funds should consider long-term efforts and identify potential funding sources for sustaining the project beyond the grant period.

Indicated below are the JARC and New Freedom funds available to the Boston Urbanized Area:

 

JARC and New Freedom Federal Funds Available – FY08 Applications
Area	JARC	New Freedom
Boston Urbanized Area	$2,420,053	$2,215,318

 

Should you have any questions or comments regarding this programming document, please contact me or Karen Winger at 508-583-1833. Thank you.

 

Completed Applications along with five (5) copies are required to be returned by June 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM to: Mr. Charles Kilmer, Old Colony Planning Council, 70 School Street, Brockton, MA 02301