Volunteer Workgroup Transports Working Class Families to Economic Opportunity
On Monday, March 25, 2019, the Pascale Sykes Foundation hosted the presentation of a study by The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on how public transportation is impacting economic and employment opportunities in Atlantic County.
The study showed that through a combination of New Jersey Transit and Cross County Connection’s community shuttles, which are 50 percent funded by the Foundation, Atlantic County averages more than two to three times the access to public jobs than in York, PA, and Northeastern Pennsylvania, the two other regions in The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia study.
Based on the success of its transportation grants to fund the community shuttles in Atlantic and Gloucester Counties, The Pascale Sykes Foundation is forming Volunteer Workgroups in both counties to develop ideas to enhance service and funding of public transportation initiatives throughout New Jersey’s Heartland. The Foundations welcomes interested individuals from transportation, government, business, economic development, community and not-for-profit sectors. If you are interested in participating, please contact the Pascale Sykes Foundation’s Vineland Office at 856-213-5068.
Finding and maintaining employment in southern New Jersey can be difficult for residents with no personal form of transportation. Access to viable transportation can help create economic equity and jobs, which are the keystones to the Foundation’s mission of building stronger families through its Whole Family Approach.
The study showed that employment in Atlantic County is concentrated in Atlantic City and Hammonton, as well as area along Route 9, the East Black Horse Pike and Route 40. According to Kyle DeMaria, a Community Development Research Analyst for The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Community, nearly three-quarters of Atlantic County residents live within a 15-minute walk of public transportation, while 35% reside within a 5-minute walk. A greater percentage of residents in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods have access to public transportation, more specifically 72% within a 5-minute walk and 96% within a 15-minute walk.
Cross County Connection TMA, which operates free shuttle service via the Route 54-40 Community Shuttle and $1 fare service via the English Creek-Tilton Road Community Shuttle
serving Atlantic County through Egg Harbor Township and the City of Northfield, was found to contribute to accessing economic opportunity both through its direct routes and free transportation links to New Jersey Transit. Cross County Connection also operates the Pureland East-West Shuttle, which services The Avandale Park and Ride, Williamstown, Glassboro, Mullica Hill, Swedesboro, the Pureland Industrial Complex and points in between with free connection to New Jersey Transit.
For information on the Cross County Connection, visit http://www.driveless.com/. Additional information on the Pascale Sykes Foundation can be found at https://pascalesykesfoundation.com/.
