WorkLink is currently funded by the Federal Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) program through June 30, 2013. Dedicated JARC funds were repealed with the passage of the new transportation bill signed in July 2012, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), and projects were made eligible for the Urbanized Area Transit formula funds. There has been no consensus about how these funds are to be allocated from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to formerly JARC funded projects.
More than 3,000 families depend on the WorkLink service to connect them to mainline Port Authority of Allegheny County bus services, places of employment, job training, childcare and other job related services. The program provides 13,000 rides per month, and has an estimated impact of $134 million on the Western Pennsylvania region.
Heritage has been engaged in an advocacy campaign, talking to all legislators who represent the Mon Valley region to identify a funding solution. “We thank Senator Jay Costa and Senator Matt Smith for their commitment to finding a funding solution at the state level. They have been working valiantly--including many long nights, to ensure that a state transportation bill is passed that supports programs like these,” said Michele R. Atkins, Heritage Community Initiatives President and CEO at a press conference about the program on June 6.
Ms. Atkins continued, “In fact, we just talked to Senator Jay Costa this morning. He has assured us that the Senate Bill 1, transportation funding proposal, which was passed on Wednesday, June 5 includes funding for WorkLink and RideACTA as well other programs around the state. He has also assured that passage by the House of this bill by June 30 will keep the service running without interruption.”
Heritage Community Initiatives needs $1 million to operate WorkLink for the next year, and we are delighted to announce that we can save the WorkLink program if the transportation bill passes the State House of Representatives by June 30, 2013. As Michele Atkins stated, “We are quietly encouraged that, if the House does their job, our riders can keep their jobs.”
WorkLink riders; Heritage Community Initiatives donors, friends and constituents; and everyone who lives or works in the Mon Valley region of Allegheny County are encouraged to reach out to their representative. Tell them how important programs like WorkLink are to the community and ask them to support the transportation bill by June 30.
More than 3,000 families depend on the WorkLink service to connect them to mainline Port Authority of Allegheny County bus services, places of employment, job training, childcare and other job related services. The program provides 13,000 rides per month, and has an estimated impact of $134 million on the Western Pennsylvania region.
Heritage has been engaged in an advocacy campaign, talking to all legislators who represent the Mon Valley region to identify a funding solution. “We thank Senator Jay Costa and Senator Matt Smith for their commitment to finding a funding solution at the state level. They have been working valiantly--including many long nights, to ensure that a state transportation bill is passed that supports programs like these,” said Michele R. Atkins, Heritage Community Initiatives President and CEO at a press conference about the program on June 6.
Ms. Atkins continued, “In fact, we just talked to Senator Jay Costa this morning. He has assured us that the Senate Bill 1, transportation funding proposal, which was passed on Wednesday, June 5 includes funding for WorkLink and RideACTA as well other programs around the state. He has also assured that passage by the House of this bill by June 30 will keep the service running without interruption.”
Heritage Community Initiatives needs $1 million to operate WorkLink for the next year, and we are delighted to announce that we can save the WorkLink program if the transportation bill passes the State House of Representatives by June 30, 2013. As Michele Atkins stated, “We are quietly encouraged that, if the House does their job, our riders can keep their jobs.”
WorkLink riders; Heritage Community Initiatives donors, friends and constituents; and everyone who lives or works in the Mon Valley region of Allegheny County are encouraged to reach out to their representative. Tell them how important programs like WorkLink are to the community and ask them to support the transportation bill by June 30.
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