Fostering Self-Sufficiency
Transportation Project

Affordable transportation has been a long-standing problem in Morris County due to inadequate public transportation and the high cost of owning a vehicle.  The transportation gap is critical because it impacts every aspect of life:  jobs, affordable housing, and access to health and human services.

In 2004, United Way initiated the Transportation Survey to better understand the needs of those who receive services from county and municipal agencies and non-profit organizations.  The survey concluded that the shortage of affordable and accessible community transportation affects Morris County's "transportation disadvantaged" residents, both in accessing social services and in accomplishing the many tasks of daily living.

To address the transportation "crunch" in Morris County, United Way and its partners are providing safe, affordable, and reliable transportation.  United Way's Community Transportation Program will facilitate agency collaboration and lower transportation costs.  In partnership with TransOptions, the Community Transportation Program will share best practices, pool underutilized agency resources, and consolidate services by sharing vehicles, drivers, and scheduling.  The program will create new services by:

• Identifying new expert low-cost providers to replace less efficient services.
• Introducing proven transportation service models.
• Instituting a brokering/concierge service to connect transportation disadvantaged passengers and non-profit agencies to low-cost providers.
• Increasing auto ownership for low-income and immigrant populations.

For more information about United Way's Transportation Project, please email Melissa Wankmuller or phone 973.993.1160, x.122 or email Carol DeGraw or phone 973.993.1160, x.128.