Note:  Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding for Job Access and Reverse Commute (section 5316) and  New Freedom (section 5317) is administered by the Mid Region Council of Governments, and is only applicable for agencies or organizations within the Albuquerque Metropolitan Planning Area ( see the map).  Funding for the non-urbanized areas of the region is available through the New Mexico Department of Transportation Request for Proposal page.

How it Works 

The Mid Region Council of Governments receives section 5316 and section 5317 federal transportation funds for the Albuquerque Metropolitan Planning Area, and makes them available to eligible agencies and organizations via a competitive process. Federal transit law requires that Job Access and Reverse Commute and New Freedom funding be derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan.

As a result, the Mid-Region Council of Governments developed the Coordinated Transportation Plan over a 15-month period, in a cooperative manner, with ABQRide, Los Lunas Transit, Rio Transit, Rio Metro, the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and many other agencies. The current plan may be viewed below. MRCOG and its partners are currently working on an update of the plan.

•  Coordinated Transportation Plan
•  Coordinated Transportation Plan Appendices

Job Access and Reverse Commute

The goal of the JARC program is to improve access to transportration services to employment and emplyoment related activities for welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals, and to transport residents of urbanized areas and non-urbanized areas to suburban employment opportunities.

•  Job Access and Reverse Commute Application Guide 
•  Job Access and Reverse Commute Application 

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides financial assistance for transportation services planned, designed, and carried out to meet the transportation needs of eligible low-income inidviduals, and of reverse commuters regardless of income.

New Freedom Program Funding

The New Freedom formula grant program aims to provide additional tools to overcome existing barriers facing Americans with disabilities seeking integration into the work force and full participation in society.

•  New Freedom Application Guide
•  New Freedom Application

Lack of adequate transportation is a primary barrier to work for individuals with disabilities. The 2000 Census showed that only 60 percent of people between the ages of 16 and 64 with disabilities are employed. The New Freedom formula grant program seeks to reduce barriers to transportation services and expand the transportation mobility options available to people with disabilities beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

More information about New Freedom and JARC is available online from the United States Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration.

Contact:  Lloyd Aragon (lcaragon@mrcog-nm.gov)