Through its new Transit Access Fund, Ohio-based Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will make bus tokens available at a significant discount to local social service agencies for financially disadvantaged clients who need jobs. Agencies can receive a discount of 75 cents off the token bulk rate of $1.50 per token through the program.
This initiative will provide increased transportation access to agencies that deliver job accessibility programs to those hit hardest by the economic downturn in greater Dayton. The community fund is designed to ease the transportation challenges faced by low-income job seekers to obtain and maintain employment. The access fund supports work trips, job training and workforce development programs.
Agencies that receive tokens from the Transit Access Fund will distribute them free of charge to recipients. Non-profit agencies that wish to obtain the discounted tokens must establish an RTA token distribution program. Once an application is approved by an advisory committee, an agreement between the agency and RTA will be signed.
The Transit Access program is partially funded through the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission by federal Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) money, which subsidizes transit to critical job and job training destinations for low-income residents. Private funds also are being raised to match the government grants.