JARC Coordination Plan - Oklahoma Department of Transportation

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE PLAN
Section 1: Introduction to the Plan
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU), the federal transportation reauthorization bill of 2005, required a locallydeveloped
and coordinated public transit/human service planning process be developed
and documented in a plan. In addition, this legislation required the plan to be
implemented no later than 2007 in order to receive federal funding for transit projects
intended to meet the needs of target populations (elderly individuals, persons with
disabilities, and low-income persons). SAFETEA-LU allows two significant changes to
the standard procedures defined by previous legislation. Now, project proponents are
allowed to use dollars from other federal programs to match FTA funds, and expenses
related to mobility management can be considered a capital expense. These are two
significant changes that allow greater flexibility for budgeting and financing human
service transportation.
The Federal Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility, an interdepartmental
committee of eleven federal agencies established in 2004 by Presidential Executive
Order, took coordination planning further by adopting the following policy statement on
October 1, 2006:
“Member agencies of the Federal Coordinating Council on Access and
Mobility resolve that federally-assisted grantees that have significant
involvement in providing resources and engage in transportation delivery
should participate in a local coordinated human services transportation
planning process and develop plans to achieve the objectives to reduce
duplication, increase service efficiency and expand access for the
transportation-disadvantaged populations as stated in Executive Order
13330.”
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) recognizes that coordination has
already occurred at different levels from region to region across the State. The primary
focus of the locally coordinated plan is to fund new projects that encourage increased
coordination among agencies to address transportation gaps at the regional level.
Purpose and Background of the Plan
Locally coordinated plans are intended to be specific to the transportation needs and
issues throughout the State and are created to guide the development of projects to
address those issues. Funding for these projects is available under three Federal
Transit Administration (FTA) funding programs: Section 5310 Transportation for Elderly
Persons and Persons with Disabilities, Section 5316 Job Access and Reverse
Commute (JARC), and Section 5317 New Freedom (NF). For more information
regarding these funding programs, see Appendix A. ODOT is the Governor’s designee
for the administration of Section 5316 and Section 5317 programs for the rural and
small urban areas of the state. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS)
administers the Section 5310 program for the State.
Oklahoma Locally Coordinated Public Transit 1
Human Service Transportation Plan