Transportation Solutions Committee
A Major Collaboration Effort to Provide Public Transportation to Jefferson County
The Transportation Solutions Committee (TSC), a large, diverse group of nonprofit agencies and public providers, has been working on a plan to offer public transportation since July 2007. In order to design a sustainable transportation system, the committee recognizes that the service must be available for public use as well as accommodating people with disabilities.
An initial investment by the Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities (MPCDD) to Jefferson County Developmental Resource Board (JCDDRB) supported a ten-month planning period. In May of 2008, JCDDRB was given a second grant by the MPCDD to fund the implementation phase. TSC and JCCP used the proceeds of the grants to leverage federal investment in the capital costs of purchasing their first bus and made applications to MoDOT and East-West Gateway Council of Governments for Federal Transportation Administration funding.
The TSC's grant proposal was approved for 3 years of funding by MoDOT under the New Freedom Program, which supports new public transportation services and alternatives beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that assist individuals with disabilities with their transportation needs. Recently East-West Gateway Council of Governments approved two years of funding to launch a bus route for the City of Arnold.
A logo and name contest was conducted and as a result the new service, is called "JeffCo Express." JeffCo Express will off accessible, affordable public transportation along a deviated route from DeSoto to Arnold with 24 scheduled stops with four round trip per day. TSC is designed to fill the gaps between human service and public transportation services and to facilitate the integration of individuals with disabilities into the workforce and full participation in the community.
A deviated route means that as long as a person with a disability lives within a one mile radius of a major designated stop they could called 24 hours in advance and the bus would come to their home to pick them up. The bus would deliver them to a requested destination as long as it too was within a one mile radius of a major designated stop.
Our bus was ordered through MoDOT and we began service on November 30, 2009.
Members of Transportation Solutions Committee:
Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Resource Board Disability Resource Association
Mid-East Area Agency on Aging OATS, Inc.
JC Transit Huskey Bus & Transportation Services
Jefferson County Health Department Jefferson Regional Medical Center
Jefferson College Jefferson County Community Partnership
Jefferson County Commissioners The City of Arnold
The City of Hillsboro The City of DeSoto
Metro Business College St Louis Regional Center Office
Jefferson County Online Jefferson County Libraries
Mapaville State School Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilites
