CommuterLINK iduals.

CommuterLINK provides transportation to eligible individuals for work and training for a 90-day period.

Who qualifies?
To qualify for the program, an individual must:

·    Receive OWF benefits (cash) from Job and Family Services, and you must obtain a referral from your social service case manager.

·    Work at least 30 hours a week.

·    Job or training location is not on a bus route. (You are ineligible for services if TARTA's route & schedule allows you to ride the bus.)

·    Complete a 90-day plan (CommuterLINK will work with you to develop a plan). Eligible riders can use the program for a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180-days in one calendar year.

How the Program Works
Once approved for services, you will be given the name and telephone number of your assigned transportation provider. You must call CommuterLINK at 419-241-9044 to report any changes to your pick-up and drop-off locations.

Pick-Up from Home
Call transportation provider 2 hours before you need to be at work and give a pick-up time of 1 hour before you are scheduled to start work.

Example: Call at 7 a.m. and order your pick-up time for 8 a.m. for a work start-time of 9 a.m.

You must allow 1 hour travel time. The provider may arrive 15 minutes early or 15 minutes late but will only wait for you for 5 minutes.

Return Trip
Provider must be called at least 1 hour before your work-day ends.

Example: Call before 4 p.m. to be picked up at 5 p.m.

IF YOU NEED TO CANCEL YOUR RIDE, YOU MUST CALL THE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY.
Abuse of the program may result in immediate action to cancel your service.

If you think you qualify, please contact your Social Service case manager at 419-213-8999.

More about the Program
Northwest Ohio CommuterLINK's mission is to help economically disadvantaged individuals become self-sufficient by removing transportation as a barrier to obtaining and maintaining employment. Over 50 percent of our Car Buy clients have been through the CommuterLINK program demonstrating that a number of CommuterLINK clients are progressing and becoming self-sufficient which is the ultimate goal of CommuterLINK.

The CommuterLINK program was established in 1999.

For more information, contact Tiffany Banks, CommuterLINK project manager, at 419-241-9044 or banks@tmacog.org.

Employers can benefit if:

· You have difficulty recruiting enough entry-level workers
· Your location is in a remote area or inaccessible by public transportation
· Your employees work non-traditional hours