Scope of Services

The scope of commuter services supported by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and offered for free by local agencies varies by market need and availability, and may include carpool, vanpool, bus, commuter train, subway, passenger ferry, HOV, telecommuting, walking and bicycling. The scope of Employer Assistance Programs also varies by need and may include help with surveys to assess employee commute needs and setting up or facilitating on-site ridematching, transportation incentives, telework, parking incentive programs, vanpool and shuttle programs.

Funding Programs

While the Commuter Services section may manage grant projects from several federal and state funding categories for which these programs qualify, it is primarily responsible for the oversight of the following state grant funds:

• TDM/Commuter Assistance
• Transportation Efficiency Improvement Fund (TEIF)

For additional information on these grants or other potential Commuter Assistance/TDM/Marketing funding resources, see see our Public Transportation Funding Overview.

State Aid for TDM Projects and Commuter Assistance Programs

Who is Eligible?

• Local governing bodies
• Transportation District Commissions
• Public Service Corporations
• Planning District Commissions
• Transportation Management Associations

Eligible Expenses:
The primary goal of any TDM/Ridesharing organization funded under this program is to decrease highway congestion and improve air quality by facilitating commuter mobility in high occupancy transportation modes.

Eligible expenses include the administrative costs of providing the following services:

• Providing carpool and vanpools ride matching services
• Promoting all high occupancy commuter transportation modes
• Assisting private/public sector employers, developers, and transportation management associations to implement TDM/Commuter Assistance services, including:
  • Parking management
  • Company sponsored vanpool and TDM/Commuter programs
  • Commuter HOV incentive programs
  • Company relocation commuter assistance
  • On-site transit ticket sales and employee discount fare programs
  • On-site TDM/Ridesharing promotions
  • Guaranteed Ride Home programs
  • Telecommuting program assistance
  • Transit friendly site planning
• Promoting the planning, development, promotion, and use of facilities and programs that facilitate the use of high occupancy transportation modes through active involvement in local activities relating to:
• Public/private park-and-ride lots
• HOV highway lanes and enforcement
• Land use planning
• Site design
• Clean Air Act compliance
• Advising and participating in the development of regulatory actions, including:
• Transportation Demand Management and Congestion Management
• Local transportation proffers
• Zoning for transportation related services
• Air Quality programs
• Participating in public/private organizations who support TDM/Commuter Assistance initiatives such as:
• Transportation Management Associations
• Chambers of Commerce
• Neighborhood Civic Groups
• Specialized transportation interest groups
• Local, regional and national professional associations

Note:
Assistance for new vanpool start-ups and existing vanpools (the VANSTART/VANSAVE Program) should be included in the program budget as a line item. The total project costs net of any federal aid received are eligible for reimbursement by grant funds.

Procedures for Applying for State Aid for Commuter Assistance
Forms and instructions to apply for State Aid can be found on OLGA.

Resolution Authorizing the Application
In order to ensure that local matching funds will be available to support all grant applications, a resolution from the governing board, council or commission of the grant applicant is required. The resolution must authorize the submission of the grant application and certify that all necessary local matching funds will be provided if the grant application is approved. A single resolution may be used to authorize all grant applications for the fiscal year. Sample resolutions can be accessed on OLGA.

Private corporations and Transportation Management Associations (TMA's) may also participate in projects through contractual arrangements with eligible recipients.

Matching Ratio:
The maximum state participation ratio is 80% for state public transportation Commuter Assistance/TDM program assistance.