May 24, 2006
WASHINGTON –Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) today announced a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in the amount of $2,477,954 for the Job Access and Reverse Commute program (JARC). The funding will be administered through the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) for statewide expansion of transit services geared towards filling gaps between lower income Connecticut residents and regional job centers, job-training programs, and educational facilities.

“This is an important investment," said Dodd. "Getting workers in our state to area jobs does more than just help our economy, it can help transport them to better opportunities and a brighter future."

"I am extremely pleased that Connecticut has received these funds to improve public transportation to and from our urban areas," said Lieberman. "Our lower income workers will now be able to find employment opportunities previously inaccessible to them via public transportation, bringing additional economic benefits to disadvantaged neighborhoods."

The Job Access and Reverse projects are targeted at developing new or expanded transportation services such as shuttles, vanpools, new bus routes, connector services to mass transit, and guaranteed ride home programs for welfare recipients and low income persons. Reverse Commute projects provide transportation services to suburban employment centers from urban, rural and other suburban locations for all populations