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From the Acting Director, Department of Transportation, and the Managing Director, Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), submitting an informational report regarding the 2012 Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program (WETAP) Award. (INFORMATIONAL ONLY UNLESS DIRECTED OTHERWISE BY THE COMMITTEE)
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POLICY
MCTS periodically provides informational updates to the Committee on transit issues.
BACKGROUND
The Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance program (WETAP) combines the Federal Job Access Reverse Commute program (JARC), State Transportation Employment and Mobility program (TEAM), and local funding sources to assist transportation providers in connecting low-income workers with jobs through enhanced local transit services.
In August 2011, MCTS submitted applications for the continuation of WETAP-JARC service on bus Routes 12, 17, 27, 28 and 54. The applications for enhanced service included: an extension of service on Route 12 from Good Hope Road to Cherrywood Lane on weekends; continuation of service on Route 17 (Canal Street); an extension of service on Route 27 from Hampton Avenue and Green Bay Road to the Glendale Industrial Park; improvement in mid-day frequency of service on Route 28; and an extension of Route 54 from 1st & Mitchell to United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS) at 27th and S. Chase Avenue.
The 2012 adopted budget for Org. Unit 5600, Milwaukee County Transit-Paratransit System, provides for elimination of JARC routes if WETAP funding is not available. On November 29, 2011, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced WETAP grant awards to Milwaukee County for calendar year 2012 in the amount of $784,500, of which $523,000 is Federal JARC funding and $261,500 is State TEAM funding. Accordingly, given that MCTS has been awarded funding to continue operating extended service to help workers access jobs, JARC service on Routes 12, 17, 27, 28 and 54 will be operated in calendar year 2012.
RECOMMENDATION
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