Creating Access to Opportunity Webinar
Strengthening Transportation Career Pathways & Youth Workforce Development Partnerships Through Service
US Department of Transportation (DOT)
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
December 2014
See: Archived Webinar Recording (PDF Version)
PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) have partnered to encourage the use of youth service and conservation corps to perform appropriate transportation related projects. This webinar will provide an overview of transportation youth workforce opportunities and highlight best practices.
Secretary Anthony Foxx,
U.S. Department of Transportation
Wendy Spencer,
CEO Corporation for National and Community Service
- Creating access to opportunity is why we are here. DOT and CNCS recognized an opportunity to partner in order to reach common goals/objectives.
- The Presidential Task Force on Expanding National Service was created by Presidential Memorandum in July of 2013 to advance Agency and Administration priorities and tasked with developing strategies to expand national service to meet national needs through collaboration with other governmental agencies and the private sector
- By creating new inter-agency, inter-governmental and public-private partnerships for national service, the President's action can:
- Engage more Americans in service
- Expand economic and educational opportunities for those who serve
- Enhance Federal agencies' capacity to achieve their missions
- Build a pipeline of Americans ready to enter public service
Agenda
Benefits of Utilizing AmeriCorps
- National service is a effective strategy that can
- Help increase the capacity of a State to meet its transportation needs
- Expand economic opportunities for young adults
- AmeriCorps is a national service program that places mission-driven young adults into intensive service positions to:
- Improve lives
- Strengthen communities
- Foster civic engagement
- Partnerships between the DOT, CNCS, and States create opportunities to:
- Focus service initiatives on State-specific transportation needs
- Create effective methods and more efficient leveraging of funds
- Create active citizenship and economic opportunities for young adults
- Success in recruiting youth from disadvantaged and minority backgrounds.
- Able to recruit from a national pool of applicants to create a diverse work force.
- Develops hard and soft skills that translate directly to the work force, enhancing labor participation.
- AmeriCorps provides each member with a post-service education award.
- AmeriCorps members may have access to child care, health care, and student loan deferment.
Education award up to $5,700 for 1,700 hours of service that can be used for education and related expenses, including student loans.
Research is indicating that:
- AmeriCorps alumni are more likely to enter public sector employment than the general population. (This can lead to a pipeline of public servants.)
- Most AmeriCorps members feel like they will be better equipped in the workforce after serving and that their service will benefit their future educational, professional, or civic endeavors.
- Volunteers have higher odds of finding a job after being out of work than non-volunteers. (This creates a pathway to employment.)
Youth Service, Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps
- How are they connected?
- AmeriCorps funds some participants in youth service and conservation corps.
- AmeriCorps members who serve on youth service and conservation corps are part of a larger community of national service.
- Participants who are also AmeriCorps members are entitled to all the benefits afforded AmeriCorps members.
- How are they different?
- Not all youth service and conservation corps participants are AmeriCorps members.
- Not all youth service and conservation corps meet the eligibility for AmeriCorps (e.g. age).
Authorizing Statutes
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) requires USDOT to "...encourage the States and regional transportation planning agencies to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth service or conservation corps ... to perform appropriate projects eligible under sections 162, 206, 213, and 217 of title 23, United States Code, and under section 1404 of the SAFETEA-LU."
MAP-21 §1524 defines the use of Youth Service or Conservation Corps:
- Defines qualified youth service or conservation corps.
- Living allowance or rate of pay (account for prevailing wage rates).
- Exempts contracts and cooperative agreements with Corps from highway program contracting requirements: allows Sole Source.
- §1524 supersedes TAP Treatment of Projects requirement.
- §1524 applies at the project level, not the program level.
The concept for using youth corps in Federal-aid highway program projects originated in 1998 through the Transportation Equity Act and MAP-21 expanded the potential for federally-funded transportation projects to use youth corps organizations.TEA-21 §1108(g) relating to Transportation Enhancement (TE) projects.
- MAP-21 Section 1524 defines "qualified youth service or conservation corps".
- MAP-21 Section 1524 requires the USDOT/FHWA to "...encourage the States and regional transportation planning agencies to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth service or conservation corps … to perform appropriate projects eligible under sections 162, 206, 213, and 217 of title 23, United States Code, and under section 1404 of the SAFETEA-LU (119 Stat. 1228)." These programs are the National Scenic Byways Program (23 U.S.C. 162), Recreational Trails Program (23 U.S.C. 206), Transportation Alternatives Program (23 U.S.C. 213), Bicycle Transportation and Pedestrian Walkways (23 U.S.C. 217), and the Safe Routes to School Program (Section 1404 of SAFETEA-LU).
- Bullets addressed in FHWA Q&A at www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21/qandas/qayscc.cfm
Eligibility Qualifications
Qualified youth service or conservation corps include any program established by a State or local government or by a nonprofit organization that--
- is capable of offering meaningful, full-time, productive work for individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, in an urban or public works or transportation setting;
- gives participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support services; and
- provides participants with the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their communities and the United States.
Section 1524 applies to projects selected to be funded. It does not authorize a State to set aside funds specifically for Youth Corps. States and MPOs must use project selection processes authorized by statute. Project selection for TAP projects is governed by general planning requirements and the specific direction in 23 U.S.C. 213(c)(4)(A) requiring a competitive process. The State (or MPO, as applicable) must first select projects through a competitive process, and then the State or project sponsor may choose to enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with youth corps. States have several options to encourage eligible project sponsors to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth service and conservation corps. Some options include:
- A State or MPO project application process may describe advantages of using youth service and conservation corps and direct applicants to youth corps resources.
- A State or MPO competitive selection process may include criteria that gives priority to projects that incorporate youth service and conservation corps (see Alaska, California, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wyoming)
- A State may use Section 1524 for any project eligible under sections 162, 206, 213, and 217 of title 23, United States Code, regardless of Federal-aid funding program.
Eligible Activities
- Pedestrian and bicycle facilities and amenities to improve mobility, access, or safety, including ensuring compliance with accessibility requirements
- Safe Routes to Schools projects and programs
- Conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails
- Scenic turn-out and overlook construction
- Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities
- Vegetation management
- Environmental mitigation related to stormwater
- Restore or maintain wildlife connectivity
- Landscaping and streetscaping to complete transportation projects
Note: Most of these activities have been or are currently being done by AmeriCorps members across the nation.
Transportation Program Highlights
There are many USDOT programs and eligible activities that support youth workforce development to include:
- Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
- Recreational Trails Program (RTP)
- Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
- Surface Transportation Program (STP)
- On-the-Job Training & Supportive Services (OJT/SS)
- FTA Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program
Notes:
The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) replaced the funding from pre-MAP-21 programs including Transportation Enhancements, Recreational Trails, and Safe Routes to School, however, the RTP continues to function as a separate program.
The Surface Transportation Program (STP) provides flexible funding that may be used by States and localities for projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance on any Federal-aid highway, bridge and tunnel projects.
Transportation Alternatives Programs (TAP)
The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Eligible Projects include:
- Construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorized transportation.
- Construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas.
- Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities.
- Vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway safety, prevent against invasive species, and provide erosion control.
- Environmental mitigation activity, to address stormwater management, reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality or to restore and maintain connectivity among terrestrial or aquatic habitats.
TAP: Recreational Trails Program Overview
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses.
Eligible Projects include:
- Maintain and restore existing trails (and bridges).
- Develop and rehabilitate trailside and trailhead facilities.
- Purchase and lease trail construction and maintenance equipment.
- Construct new trails (limits on Federal lands).
- Acquire easements or property for trails.
- Trail assessments for accessibility and maintenance.
- Trail safety and environmental protection education.
- State administrative costs.
TAP: Safe Routes to School Overview
To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; to make walking and bicycling to school safe and more appealing; and to facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects that will improve safety, and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.
Eligible Projects include:
- Planning, design, and construction of projects that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school.
- Sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements;
- Traffic education and enforcement in the vicinity of schools;
- Student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety (e.g. "Train the Trainer")
- Safe Routes to School Coordinator
- Since SRTS is eligible under TAP, SRTS projects are also eligible under STP and HSIP.
Note: Bottom Photo from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center: www.pedbikeimages.org. La Mesa, California, Taken in 2006 by Dan Burden.
Surface Transportation Program (STP)
The Surface Transportation Program (STP) provides funding that States and localities may use for projects to preserve and improve any Federal-aid highway, bridge and tunnel projects on any public road, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital projects, including intercity bus terminals.
Eligible Projects include:
- Construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, resurfacing, restoration, preservation, or operational improvements for highways.
- Bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways, including compliance with accessibility requirements.
- Installation of safety barriers and nets on bridges.
- Environmental restoration and pollution abatement.
- Control of noxious weeds and establishment of native species.
- Workforce development, training, and education activities are an eligible use of STP funds.
On-the-Job Training & Supportive Services (OJT/SS)
The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program requires the State transportation agencies (STAs) to ensure prime contractors working on federally-assisted projects make full use of apprenticeship and training programs targeted to move women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals into journey-level positions. These programs ensure a competent workforce is available to meet current and future highway construction hiring needs and address the historical under-representation of members of these groups in highway construction skilled crafts. Eligible programs include jobsite mentoring and post-graduation follow-up.
Youth Service Nonprofits can partner with STAs to-
- Develop OJT workforce plans that identify immediate and anticipated demographic and workforce gaps.
- Assist in developing a "workforce development compact" with the STA, the State workforce investment board & other agencies with existing programs to create effective training that leads to careers in the transportation industry.
Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program
Approximately $9M will be made available in cooperative agreements to transit agencies and other entities to promote innovative nationally and regionally significant public transportation workforce development models and programs that invest in America's economic growth and help build ladders of opportunity into the middle class for American Workers. Eligible applicants include nonprofits.
FTA is prioritizing applications that focus on one or more of the following areas:
- Targeting areas with high rates of unemployment; helping persons in local communities to directly benefit from employment opportunities created by the construction and operation of new transit capital projects or other public transportation activities within their region;
- Providing career pathways that support the movement of targeted populations (e.g., new transit entrants and other underserved populations) from initial or short-term employment opportunities to sustainable careers;
- helping to increase through outreach and training
- addressing gaps in areas with current or projected workforce shortages in fields related to public transportation;
- pre-employment training/ preparation/tracking; and/or recruitment and hiring.
Bridging the Connection
- Federal law (MAP-21 Section 1524) provides the framework to engage with youth service and conservation corps.
- AmeriCorps provides States with the capacity and infrastructure to implement MAP-21 Section 1524.
- AmeriCorps State and National
- AmeriCorps NCCC
- State Service Commissions
- Sponsoring of national youth service and conservation corps
- AmeriCorps, Youth Service, and Conservation Corps members can perform a range of DOT-eligible activities.
Bridging the Connection: Partnership Highlights
- The Corps Network represents the 100+ Service & Conservation Corps (Corps) that enroll 25,000+ youth each and work in every State and DC.
- Corps enroll diverse Corps members which last year included 60% from below the poverty line, 55% unemployed, 30% not in school and had no High School Diploma/GED, and nearly 20% formerly incarcerated or court-involved. In addition, 48% of Corpsmembers were minorities and 35% were women.
- Corps follow a model of adult mentors (Crewleaders) guiding crews of youth (16-25 & veterans) which perform service and conservation projects in communities or on public lands.
- Tied to those projects, Corpsmembers receive educational, workforce development, and supportive services.
State Partnership Highlights: California
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) developed criteria to give priority in selection of projects to sponsors using corps. It requires transportation planning agencies, county transportation commissions or authorities and congestion management agencies to use specified criteria when selecting candidates for TE projects that partner with corps. It also allowed Caltrans to enter into cooperative agreements with local conservation corps for TE projects.
Benefits of Partnering with the California Conservation Corps (CCC):
- Transportation projects become pathways for young adults to successfully enter the workforce
- Crews work in and are located in many disadvantaged communities
What the CCC Offers:
- Supervised crews of 10-15 young adults
- Trained in safety, tool use, landscaping, irrigation and other public works skills
CCC Project Examples:
- Sidewalk repair, removal and re- placement
- Sign installation
- Irrigation
- Landscaping
- Demo and deconstruction
- Tree planting
- Median Maintenance
- Trail construction
- Urban park construction
- Graffiti removal
- Bike locker & bike rack installations
- And more...
Note: The California Department of Transportation gives priority in the selection and funding of projects to agencies that engage or partner with conservation corps. These corps are capable of completing a wide range of project work, including tree planting along roadways and in medians, trail construction, creating walkways, and installing wildlife fencing along highways. These projects provide skills to their young workers and help them move into jobs and careers in the transportation field.
State Partnership Highlights: W. Virginia
Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia (CCCWV) - West Virginia
The Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia (CCCWV) operates a statewide Courtesy Patrol of WV's major roadways. The Courtesy Patrol Corps members assist stranded motorists, removes hazards from the roadways, provide gas or directions, change flat tires and, in general, enhance safety on highways. Corps members assist law enforcement and other highway personnel with freeway incident management associated with construction, accidents, and other related incidents.
In addition, CCCWV also has AmeriCorps members who work on its Trails and Development projects which are funded through RTP, also administered by the West Virginia Department of Transportation via Division of Highways. These projects include trail work, building, and maintenance for both motorized and nonmotorized trails.
Funding: Contract with WVDOT, WV Division of Tourism, and WV State Service Commission
The Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia (CCCWV) receives AmeriCorps funding through a formula grant from the West Virginia state service commission, Volunteer West Virginia. It is also a member of The Corps Network. CCCWV administers the West Virginia Courtesy Patrol (WVCP), a motorist assistance patrol program, through contract with West Virginia Department of Transportation. The WVCP program provides employment, training and educational opportunities to its corps members who serve as patrol drivers and work to enhance the overall safety of Virginia's highway.
In addition, CCCWV also has AmeriCorps members who work on its Trails and Development projects which are funded through RTP, also administered by the West Virginia Department of Transportation via Division of Highways. These projects include trail work, building, and maintenance for both motorized and nonmotorized trails.
Opportunities for Partnership
USDOT and CNCS encourage the use of AmeriCorps members for transportation-related projects. Suggested opportunities for partnership include:
- Develop relationships among key stakeholders in your State or region
- RTP funds usually are administered through a resource agency, and not a transportation agency. Include both agencies.
- Metropolitan planning organizations representing large urbanized areas select projects for a portion of TAP funds.
- Collaborate between key stakeholders-essential for an effective engagement strategy.
- An updated guide is underway to help you with the process.
- Although the goal is the same for all stakeholders, the roles and responsibilities vary. For example,
Most States administer the RTP through a State resource agency. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/rtpstate.cfm for contacts.
The definition of a large urbanized area means an urbanized area with a population of 200,000 or more. Some of these urbanized areas may be represented by more than one MPO.
Expansion of AmeriCorps positions using DOT funds.
Opportunities for Transportation Authorities
- Meet with governor-appointed State Service Commission staff to:
- Learn how national service can be a cost effective, community-building strategy in solving transportation challenges.
- Learn how AmeriCorps members can perform DOT-eligible activities.
- Develop a strategy to give preference to grant applicants who partner with youth service and conservation corps
- Legislative action
- Preference or competitive priority
- Interagency agreements and contracts
- Other
- Reach out to State transportation authorities who have already engaged youth service and conservation corps to glean lessons learned.
Background on State and regional transportation authorities:
- Role of:
- Authorized agencies responsible for selecting projects using Federal-aid highway program funds
- Develop competitive processes that allow grant applicants to submit projects for funding
- Decision-making authority for formula funding
- States such as Alaska, California, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wyoming that have already implemented a preference for partnering with a youth service or conservation corps.
Opportunities for State Service Commissions
- Meet with State transportation officials to:
- Familiarize yourself with your State's Federal-aid highway program, particularly TAP, RTP, STP, HSIP, CMAQ.
- What does the competitive process entail?
- Who is eligible to apply?
- What activities is your State prioritizing?
- Help educate State transportation officials on the benefits of AmeriCorps and what DOT-eligible activities AmeriCorps members can perform.
- Notify organizations in your network of potential funding available through the Federal-aid highway program and provide support for them to access funds.
- Reach out to State Service Commissions who have already engaged youth service and conservation corps to glean lessons learned.
Background information on State Service Commissions:
- Governor-appointed
- annually mange more than $250 million in Federal AmeriCorps national service grants, along with more than $100 million from local sources,
- play a key role in determining how national service resources are used in their States with approximately two-thirds of AmeriCorps grant funding going to the State service commissions.
- In most States, the State service commission is part of the State government, making the link between State government and communities more direct. This is important in developing or enhancing the State outreach strategy.
Some key features of State Service Commissions particularly relevant to the development of a State engagement strategy include: ...Have a wealth of experience in working with national service corps (as well as local corps) and can identify organizations that have the capacity to provide DOT-eligible activities.
- Are a key stakeholder in getting the word out about the connection between transportation projects and AmeriCorps programs.
- Together with CNCS State offices, State service commissions are available to partner with and support the effort. This might include such things as training and technical assistance, outreach to other public agencies, or outreach to nonprofit organizations.
- Can collaborate with transportation authorities on DOT-funded grant competitions, as necessary.
Opportunities for Youth Service and Conservation Corps
- Reach out to State Service Commissions who can help facilitate the process.
- Help educate State and Federal transportation authorities on the benefits of utilizing AmeriCorps members in DOT-supported projects.
- Share realistic expectations with key stakeholders on your capacity to perform DOT-supported project work.
- Share research and evaluation data that show the impact of service on participants and communities.
Background on youth service and conservation corps:
- Youth service and conservation corps harness the power of youth and young adults to tackle some of America's greatest challenges and transform their own lives in the process.
- With more than 125 organizations nationwide enrolling approximately 26,000 members, youth service and conservation corps provide a wealth of resource conservation and infrastructure improvement to the nation.
- Again, many of these corps members are also AmeriCorps members.
- The job training and life skills these youth learn while serving provides them with a ladder of economic opportunity that will serve them well as they strive to reach their professional and educational goals.
Resources
Transportation
National Service
Youth Service and Conservation Corps
