HomeMy WebLinkAbout5B1 Budget Request (Commuters Trust)
Redevelopment Commission Agenda Item
DATE: 4/28/2022
FROM: Caleb Bauer, Deputy Director of Community Investment
SUBJECT: Commuters Trust
Funding Source* (circle one) River West; River East; South Side; Douglas Road; West Washington; RDC General
*Funds are subject to the City Controller's determination of availability; if funds are unavailable, as solely determined by the City Controller, then the
authorization of the expenditure of such funds shall be void and of no effect.
Purpose of Request: Disbursement of funds for programmatic support for Commuters Trust
Specifics: Requesting $200K from Redevelopment Commission-controlled Pokagon fund
The Mayor’s Challenge was a competition organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies that called on cities to identify
bold solutions that address the toughest problems facing cities. South Bend was selected out of over 300 cities
as one of 35 “Champion Cities” and spent 6 months piloting different solutions to overcome transportation as a
barrier to stable employment. In September 2019, the city launched the next phase of the program under the
name Commuters Trust after being selected as one of nine winners of the Mayors Challenge. The Commuters
Trust team works directly with transportation vendors across multiple modes, local employers, and community
organizations to provide innovative solutions for individuals facing transportation insecurity. In 2021, the
program provided over 10,000 free and discounted rides to low-income residents in the South Bend region.
In the next phase of the program, the Commuters Trust team will work with local partners MACOG and the St
Joseph County United Way to further develop two core aspects of the program. The United Way will continue
to partner to deliver the Community Nonprofit Partner Program (11 Community Partners, 150 participants) and
has committed to working to integrate CNPP into their annual funding cycle. MACOG will work closely with the
Commuters Trust team as they continue to promote vanpool as an aspect of the employer-partnered program.
The recent comprehensive analysis of the region’s transportation systems (South Bend + Elkhart) pointed to the
difficulties of repeatedly adjusting fixed bus routes to accommodate new business development. At current
levels of employer density and long commutes for many South Bend residents (Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury)
more flexible solutions like ride-share and vanpool need to be included (and can qualify for funding) as part of a
comprehensive transit approach.
Request includes funding for program support staffing and direct costs (bus passes, Uber/Lyft, vanpool)
_________________________Pres/V-Pres
ATTEST: __________________Secretary
Date: ____________________
APPROVED Not Approved
SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
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INTERNAL USE ONLY: Project ID: PROJ ;
Total Amount – New Project Budget Appropriation _______________;
Total Amount – Existing Project Budget Change (increase or decrease) $_______________;
Funding Limits: Engineering: $_____________________; Other Prof Serv Amt $_______________;
Acquisition of Land/Bldg (circle one) Amt: $___________; Street Const Amt $________________;
Building Imp Amt $_________; Sewers Amt $_________; Other (specify) Amt $ ________________