Section 106.26. Employment transit assistance program.

 

(1)   Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that, for many workers and persons seeking employment in outlying suburban and sparsely populated and developed areas, conventional, fixed-route mass transit systems do not provide adequate transportation service. The purpose of the employment transit assistance program under this section is to correct this deficiency in access to employment locations and to stimulate the development of innovative transit service methods.

(2)   Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Eligible applicant" means a local public body or a private organization.

(b) “Local public body" has the meaning given in s. 85.20 (1) (d) .

(c) “Mass transit system" has the meaning given in s. 85.20 (1) (e) .

(d) “Project" means a project designed to improve access to jobs, including part-time jobs and Wisconsin works employment positions, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (r) , located in outlying suburban and sparsely populated and developed areas that are not adequately served by a mass transit system and to develop innovative transit service methods.

(3)   Administration. The department shall administer the employment transit assistance program and shall have all powers necessary and convenient to implement this section, including the following:

(a) To conduct a project.

(b) To make and execute contracts with eligible applicants.

(c) To make grants from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (b) to eligible applicants to conduct projects or to match a federal grant awarded to an eligible applicant to conduct a project. Grants by the department are subject to all of the following requirements:

1. A grant may not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of a project.

2. A grant may only be made to an eligible applicant that provides access to nontemporary employment or to Wisconsin works employment positions, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (r) .

(d) To receive and review applications from eligible applicants for grants under this section and to prescribe the form, nature and extent of information that shall be included in applications.

(e) To establish criteria for evaluating applications for grants under this section.

1989 a. 31 ; 1995 a. 27 s. 3526m ; Stats. 1995 s. 106.26; 1997 a. 27 ; 2003 a. 33 ; 2015 a. 348 .