Executive Summary
The clock is ticking for welfare recipients. Welfare reform has set strict
time limits mandating that tens of thousands of Alameda County's poorest
residents transition from public assistance to self-sufficiency. But for
many, inadequate transportation is a roadblock on the path to work. Research
for this report outlines the major service gaps for these residents and
presents recommendations that can break down transportation barriers to
self-sufficiency.
The report builds on analysis from the Alameda County Welfare-to-Work
planning process, completed in August 1999 and co-sponsored by the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission (MTC) and Alameda County Social Services Agency.
Getting to work isn't all that is needed, however, so this report also
developed recommendations that will greatly improve access to education,
nutritious food, health care, and other daily needs.
The major transportation barriers for transit-dependent residents can
be divided into five categories: 1) complex trips requiring transfers to
destinations such as schools, stores or health facilities; 2) job locations
without public transit access; 3) infrequent bus service, which makes all
trips more difficult and complex trips excruciating; 4) "sleeping" buses
with slim evening service and no night service; and 5) public transit fares
that are too high for low-income residents.
Overcoming these obstacles will take leadership, resolve, and about
$18.5 million per year. That is the cost of the recommendations below which,
combined, would provide a necessary transportation safety net in Alameda
County. The recommendations include:
-
Strengthen Existing Local Bus Service: Alameda County must provide
more frequent bus service on key routes and improve evening and weekend
service so that almost all local routes run during similar hours as BART.
Cost: $10.4 million/year for AC Transit, additional funding required for
WHEELS and Union City Transit.
-
Initiate New Commute Service for the New Economy: Low-income neighborhoods
are located primarily in Oakland and adjacent urban areas, while many entry-level
job centers are in the primarily suburban and diffuse south and eastern
parts of the county. MTC and the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency
should establish a new, $1.2 million/year funding program to provide operating
and capital funding for shuttles, vanpools, and other new commute services.
-
Provide 24-hour Buses for a 24-hour Economy: With a growing number
of entry-level jobs utilizing swing and night-shifts, providing late night
mobility is essential. Alameda County will need an additional $2.3 ó 2.7
million in annual operating funding to maintain and expand owl service
past 2003.
-
Create a "Lifeline" Transit Discount Pass for Low-Income Residents:
To overcome high costs and multiple fare structures, it is crucial to develop
a program that significantly reduces and simplifies costs for riders without
compromising transit operatorsí fare revenues. MTC should work with partners
in the regional welfare-to-work transportation planning process to develop
a detailed program design and potential funding mechanisms. Lost revenue
in Alameda County would be approximately $2.5 ó 3.8 million per year.
-
Offer Child Care Transportation Services: Increasing the accessibility
of child care services is a crucial way to simplify transit trips for low-income
families. One proposal is to build new child-care centers near major transportation
hubs, schools, and work sites, at a cost of approximately $8-12 million
in capital funding for four new centers. A second proposal is to establish
a child-care transportation service to shuttle children to family care
and other small providers. Serving 120 children per year would cost $265,000
ó $445,000 per year, with start-up costs of approximately $150,000.
-
Promote Employer-Sponsored Transportation: Employer-sponsored taxi
service, employer-run shuttles, subsidies to transit operators, and free
transit passes are effective programs that can reduce employee turnover
and provide access to jobs. Business organizations such as the Economic
Development Alliance for Business need to work with individual employers,
Alameda County Social Services Agency, MTC, and transit operators to institute
several employer-sponsored transportation services.
The cost of these solutions is low in comparison to the devastating economic
and social consequences of continuing inadequate service. The cost of implementing
the solutions is also low compared to current spending on all transportation
projects in the county. The County has $1 billion in discretionary funding
available in its twenty-year plan, and several new sources of funding could
bring more than another $1.5 billion over the same time frame. However, current
plans direct most of this discretionary funding to highways and expansion
of commuter rail serving suburban commuters.
The detailed information contained in this report will be critical for
community groups, concerned residents, and forward-looking elected officials
to demand funding for these programs. Additionally, transportation and
social services agencies need to aggressively pursue funding programs that
are specifically targeted for welfare-to-work programs.
The clock is still ticking. |
