New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 19, 2000

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $200,000 FOR IMPROVED MASS TRANSIT FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS

Money Will Help Improve Service in Herkimer and Oneida Counties

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the US Department of Transportation has awarded a $200,000 Job Access and Reverse Commute grant to Herkimer and Oneida Counties for mass transit projects that will help low-income city residents travel to and from jobs and employment-related services in neighboring suburbs.

"A flexible and convenient mass transit system is an essential part of the effort to help low- income city residents pursue job opportunities that are often in neighboring suburbs," said Schumer. "This funding will help ensure that getting to work isn't a hurdle to getting a job for residents in Herkimer and Oneida Counties."

Herkimer and Oneida Counties will receive a combined $200,000 to continue with the creation of a regional call center to provide travel information to area residents and to improve transit services, including the transit token program, rideshare, guaranteed ride home and employer incentive option.

Today's grants were authorized under the Job Access and Reverse Commute program, a federal effort launched under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century to assist states and localities in developing flexible transit services and provide mass transit to suburban employment centers. The grants were awarded based on a competitive application process.

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