Accessible Transportation and Workforce Interagency Cooperative (ATWIC)

In 2005, three key local organizations, with funding assistance from The Pittsburgh Foundation, have formally agreed to coordinate their efforts to produce integrated and effective public transportation solutions for the region’s workforce. The organizations are theSouthwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Port Authority of Allegheny County, and the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board.

This initiative is called the Accessible Transportation and Workforce Interagency Cooperative (ATWIC) and expands the work of the Access-To-Work Task Force (ATWTF), a committee that provided informal but highly effective coordination of work-related transportation efforts for seven years before ATWIC.

An Oversight Committee has been formed and consists of the CEOs of the partner agencies and two members from the ATWTF Coordinating Committee. The overall purpose of the ATWIC is to build a foundation of support in the region for a more focused regional approach and process for development and implementation of integrated transportation and workforce development strategies that will support economic development and employment growth in this region. The ATWIC Task Force (ATWTF) activity to date and the projects funded through the federal Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) program have demonstrated the need for a more focused, integrated and coordinated approach to transportation strategies that will address “ATWIC” challenges and produce long-term sustainable results.

Beginning in FY 2009, ATWIC began developing projects utilizing federal New Freedom grants. The New Freedom program’s intent is to expand the mobility options for persons with disabilities beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The ATWIC will coordinate the development, implementation and oversight of ATWIC and mobility activity in the region by working more closely to do the following

• assist in the prioritizing of ATW and New Freedom transportation needs in region
• outreach to community leaders and business
• development of project selection process and regional program priorities
• design and implement standardization of reporting procedures
• coordinate activity with other related transportation programs

For more information on the Accessible Transportation and Workforce Interagency Cooperative (ATWIC) please contact:

David J. Stragar
Program Manager
ATWIC Interagency Cooperative
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 650
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 201-3970 (P)
(412) 552-7091 (F)
dstragar@atwic.org

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