The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, working closely with the federal "United We Ride" and the State of Alabama’s United We Ride initiative, developed the Heart of Alabama Coordinated Human Service Transportation Plan. Human service agencies were actively involved in identifying regional human service transportation needs and developing strategies to meet these needs. The Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan was adopted by the Birmingham Metropolitan Planning Organization on [check date, 2007], and identifies human services transportation needs, barriers to meeting those needs and recommends strategies to increase mobility options in the region. Three federal grant opportunities provide annual funding for implementing these strategies and specific projects identified by the Coordinated Transportation Plan.

• Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Transportation Program, known as Section 5310, assists non-profit agencies in acquiring vehicles to transport elderly and disabled clients.
• Job Access and Reverse Commute Formula Grants, known as JARC or Section 5316, assist in the development and maintenance of transportation services designed to transport welfare recipients and low income individuals to jobs and activities related to employment.
• The New Freedom Program, known as Section 5317, provides funding for public transportation services and alternatives beyond that required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

All three of these grant programs are intended to increase mobility options in the region for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals.

 To obtain the Heart of Alabama Coordinated Human Service Transportation Plan, or sections of the plan, click on the following links:

Heart of Alabama Coordinated Human Service Transportation Plan Final Report (Full Document)
Executive Summary
Main Document
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D