As states and localities implement their welfare-reform programs, transportation to jobs, to job training, and to other employment support services is critical to the success of these programs.

The new welfare laws create needs and opportunities for states and local governments to provide improved access and mobility for poor and low-income persons, many of whom do not or cannot afford to drive. The new time limits and work-based requirements are forcing social service agencies and providers of both public and private transportation to rethink the way transportation services are provided.

One of the ideas that holds promise is better coordination and integration of existing transportation services, including those offered by employers, social service agencies, faith-based groups, non-profit organizations, schools, and transit agencies. The ability to leverage resources more effectively and efficiently can offer improvements in mobility.

It is also important that localities know which transportation strategies work and which do not. Research is needed to identify ways to enhance coordination and explore the critical factors that determine success or failure in providing employment transportation services.

This type of coordination is especially needed given the welfare law's work requirements. Former welfare recipients must commute to and from jobs, social service agencies, job training programs, educational programs, day care facilities, and job interviews. There is a need to explore new partnerships, management, financing, technology (e.g., information systems), and tools that can improve interagency coordination on transportation for unemployed and low-income customers.

The result of this research is a practitioner's guide for planners, decision makers, and social service and transportation providers that may be used to evaluate methods and outcomes that promote and enhance mobility and access to job opportunities for former welfare recipients.

Status: A guidebook has been published as TCRP Report 64, Guidebook for Developing Welfare-to-Work Transportation Services. The final report, the companion to the guidebook, can be found on the TCRP web site as TCRP Web Document 16. The final report provides a review of the issues and needs related to welfare reform and summarizes the provisions of federal welfare reform legislation the demographic characteristics and travel patterns of welfare recipients, the unique challenges of welfare-related transportation, and the implications for service strategies. Further, the final report describes available funding programs as well as innovative programs on the state and local levels. Both the report and web document are available in portable document format (PDF). Click on the files below to access the documents. (A free copy of Adobe Access Reader is available at https://www.adobe.com.) NOTE: Because of the very large size of these files, it will take some time to download. We regret the inconvenience.

TCRP Report 64 Part A

TCRP Report 64 Part B

TCRP Web Document 16
Front Matter, Executive Summary
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Field Research
Part 3: Project Findings