new york region access-to-jobs plan

New York Region Job Access & Reverse Commute Transportation Plan StudyRegional Plan Association Abeles Phillips Preiss & Shapiro Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

New York Region New York Region Access-To-Jobs PlanAccess-To-Jobs Plan

Interim FindingsInterim FindingsNovember 1, 2000November 1, 2000


Information SourcesInformation Sources• Inventory of Job Access ActivitiesInventory of Job Access Activities• Inventory of Transportation ServicesInventory of Transportation Services• Ten Public MeetingsTen Public Meetings• Focus Groups and Outreach MeetingsFocus Groups and Outreach Meetings• Initial User Survey ResultsInitial User Survey Results• NYMTC Travel SurveyNYMTC Travel Survey• New York State Employment DataNew York State Employment Data• Initial GIS AnalysisInitial GIS Analysis• Literature ResearchLiterature Research


Participation & Collaboration Participation & Collaboration for Job Access in the Regionfor Job Access in the Region

• Significant increase in interagency cooperation Significant increase in interagency cooperation

• Some progress on interjurisdictional cooperationSome progress on interjurisdictional cooperation

• Strong employer interest, variable employer Strong employer interest, variable employer involvementinvolvement

• Opportunity to more fully integrate job access Opportunity to more fully integrate job access with Workforce Investment Act actionswith Workforce Investment Act actions


Large Network of Large Network of ConstituentsConstituents

• 270,000 adult TANF/Safety Net recipients270,000 adult TANF/Safety Net recipients– 92% in NYC, 8% in suburban counties92% in NYC, 8% in suburban counties

•1 million households earning up to 1 million households earning up to $20,000/year $20,000/year

– approx. 75% in NYC, 25% in suburbsapprox. 75% in NYC, 25% in suburbs•1.5 million jobs earning up to $20,000/year1.5 million jobs earning up to $20,000/year

– approx. 65% in NYC, 35% in suburbans approx. 65% in NYC, 35% in suburbans • 61 transportation providers inventoried61 transportation providers inventoried• 8,500 licensed child care providers8,500 licensed child care providers


Location of Low-Income Location of Low-Income Constituents in the Tri-State RegionConstituents in the Tri-State Region


Entry-Level Jobs Entry-Level Jobs in the New York Regionin the New York Region


Entry-Level Jobs Entry-Level Jobs in New York Cityin New York City


Entry-Level Jobs andEntry-Level Jobs andLow-Income HouseholdsLow-Income Households


Entry-Level Jobs and Entry-Level Jobs and Public Assistance RecipientsPublic Assistance Recipients


Labor MarketMarket Conditions

• Labor shortagesLabor shortages throughout the region, most throughout the region, most intense where transit is limitedintense where transit is limited

• High unemployment and underemploymentHigh unemployment and underemployment persist in many communitiespersist in many communities

• Wage levelsWage levels have risen slowly in the low-wage have risen slowly in the low-wage labor market labor market

• Skill levelsSkill levels more of an issue for remaining more of an issue for remaining welfare-to-work clientswelfare-to-work clients


Constituency IssuesConstituency Issues• Welfare-to-Work Clients:Welfare-to-Work Clients:

• Low-Wage Workers:Low-Wage Workers:

• Persons With Disabilities:Persons With Disabilities:

– ChildcareChildcare– Service Cost, Service Hours and FrequencyService Cost, Service Hours and Frequency– Safety NetSafety Net

– ChildcareChildcare– Service Hours, Frequency and ReliabilityService Hours, Frequency and Reliability

– Service Frequency and ReliabilityService Frequency and Reliability

– Career OpportunitiesCareer Opportunities

– Span of ServiceSpan of Service


Constituency IssuesConstituency Issues• Employers:Employers:

• Transportation Providers:Transportation Providers:

• Human Service Providers:Human Service Providers:

– Labor shortages and size of labor poolLabor shortages and size of labor pool– Employee punctualityEmployee punctuality– Employee time flexibility Employee time flexibility

– Cost effectivenessCost effectiveness– Service flexibilityService flexibility

– Labor market and transportation informationLabor market and transportation information– Employer involvementEmployer involvement


Commuting Thresholds• Commuting times are somewhat higher for low-wage

workers, commutes longer than 45-60 affect job retention, depending on wage levels, child care, gender

• Wages of at least $10-12/hr appear necessary for longer commutes

• Costs above $3/day can be a hardship for lowest-paid jobs

• “Trip-chaining” impacted by frequency of service, number of children, work hours


Urban Job Access IssuesUrban Job Access Issues• Access to NYC Industrial/ Distribution centers • Frequency and reliability on some bus routes• Length of inter-borough commutes• Evening/weekend service• Information on suburban job opportunities• Cost of commuter rail and suburban buses• Safety and familiarity for reverse commutes• Guaranteed ride home


Suburban Job Access IssuesSuburban Job Access Issues• Access to Office and Retail centers• Access to dispersed Retail, Hospitality and

Health employers• Lack of transit in low-density areas• Evening/weekend service• Service coordination between different systems• Cost and frequency of commuter rails• Guaranteed ride home


Criteria for Market SelectionCriteria for Market Selection

• Number of Job Opportunities

• 1993-1999 Job Growth

• Current Transit Service

• Potential Transportation Links to Low-Income Communities

• Public and Service Provider Input

new york region access-to-jobs plan

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