The Women’s Employment Project, Inc. and Door-Tran, Inc.:
Two Programs that Link Workforce Customers with Transportation
In Brief: While offering distinct services, both the Women’s Employment Project (WEP) Transportation
Options Program and Door-Tran provide transportation support to rural, low-wage employees, job
seekers and incumbent workers. The WEP Transportation Options program provides Job Center
customers loans for car repair and purchase; gas and transit vouchers; and assistance with carpools and
vanpools. Door-Tran, which is available to all Door County residents, is a one-call information and
referral center that refers callers to appropriate transportation providers for specific trips. A Mobility
Manager is the link between both programs.
WEP and the Transportation Options Program
Recognizing the significant impact reliable transportation has on Job Center customer’s ability to secure
and retain employment, the Women’s Employment Project, Inc. (WEP) expanded its services to provide
indispensible transportation support to customers. This program is known as the Door County
Transportation Options Program.
Located within the Door County (Wisconsin) Job Center, WEP provides comprehensive employment and
training, career and vocational planning, and other supportive services to qualifying low-income
individuals and families residing in Door and Kewaunee counties. WEP receives Workforce Investment
Act (WIA) funds to serve youth and adult customers and is also a contractor for supported employment
and job coaching services through the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). Both services are
supported with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration.
As the Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program (WETAP) grantee in Door County,
WEP operates the Door County Transportation Options Program. The program’s goal is to assist lowwage job seekers, incumbent workers, and individuals with disabilities in employment programs or
working, with reliable and affordable transportation. The program provides several types of support,
including
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Loans for car repair and purchase
Gas and transit vouchers
Assistance to employees in joining employment-related carpools and vanpools
Case managers from the different agencies located at the Job Center collaborate with WEP staff to
address transportation barriers that threaten the success of low-wage earners, monitor progress,
approve outreach efforts and provide counsel and feedback about program procedures and direction.
Without this assistance, many of the Job Center’s clients would not make it to their place of
employment.
In April, 2009, as a result of a resident survey sponsored by the Door County Transportation Consortium
and the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, WEP was asked to implement an employee vanpool to run
seven days a week, transporting early morning shift workers from Sturgeon Bay to Sister Bay, a 30-mileone-way trip. The vanpool is funded with WETAP funds provided through the Door County
Transportation Options Program. A local automotive dealership is supporting the program by donating a
local match in addition to leasing and maintaining the van. Although fares are based on mileage, riders
who meet income guidelines can apply for a fare discount and receive priority seating. Other
commuters can purchase rides as space permits. With this foray into vanpooling a success, the
Transportation Options Program plans to implement vanpools to serve other commuting corridors.
Door-Tran: A Second Resource for Job Center Customers
WEP participates in transportation initiatives with the Door County Transportation Consortium. The
consortium was formed in 2006 in response to a United Way project report that identified
transportation and transportation affordability as key issues of concern throughout the county. The
consortium’s 43 members represent nonprofit, for-profit, city and county government, transportation
providers, and interested residents. As a consortium member, WEP staff, including the organization’s
mobility manager, are present at all consortium and consortium council meetings. WEP staff also attend
meetings of the Northeastern Wisconsin Regional Access to Transportation Committee. One of the
most important impacts is the additional services offered to county residents. “With this partnership in
place, the referral process in almost flawless,” contends Job Center supervisor, Melissa Emery.
One consortium initiative led to the establishment of Door-Tran, a transportation information and
referral phone center that refers callers to transportation providers able to meet their needs based on
accessibility, availability, and affordability. As a one-call center, Door-Tran is able to provide
transportation-related services that reach Job Center customers, and the rest of the county’s residents,
as well.
In addition to referrals, Door-Tran sponsors an online ridesharing board and reduced-price travel
vouchers. The half-price vouchers are sold directly to eligible individuals, those who reside in Door
County for at least six months of the year and need assistance traveling in the county. Area
organizations, agencies (e.g., the WEP program), and businesses may also purchase vouchers for their
customers or employees. Since the program started in 2009, 160 people and six agencies have
purchased vouchers, leading to a total of 5,825 subsidized trips; 1,718 to work, 936 to medical
destinations, 2,170 for social and other appointments, 230 to school and 771 to shopping destinations.
Door-Tran enjoys strong community support, as evidenced by the host of agencies that partnered to
fund its operations, namely: the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) New Freedom program, the
Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Door County Social Services, United Way of Door County, and
the Door County Community Foundation. Door-Tran works with staff in the WEP Transportation Options
Program and other work-related transportation assistance programs mentioned above.
Mobility Manager Bridges Both Transportation Options and Door-Tran
Through their physical location within the Job Center, both the Transportation Options Program and
Door-Tran staff can interact directly with customers seeking retraining and employment. Customers, in
turn, are able to have their transportation needs addressed when they apply for job-related services.
Further, program managers from each agency in the Job Center meet regularly to share information
relevant to the needs of their customers. Transportation referrals are made during Job Center
orientations and transportation is represented at all Job Center events.
In 2007, with support from the United Way of Door County and FTA New Freedom funds, WEP hired
Pam Busch to serve as the organization’s mobility manager. Matching funds for the grant were provided
by other consortium members, private foundations, local associations and fundraising activities.
Busch works with the consortium to track unmet transportation needs throughout the county and
suggests options to better utilize available transportation to meet those needs. Job Center registration
forms include questions related to transportation needs, allowing staff to assess existing barriers to
transportation access and prioritize adequate responses. In addition, Busch shares information
regarding employment and general transportation needs with consortium members. For example, the
consortium is considering implementation of a shared ride taxi system and has included the need for
after-hour wheelchair access, which is not currently available, in its proposal for the project.
Busch’s ties to the workforce community are still strong; Ms. Busch is a certified workforce development
professional and a member of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.
Through her affiliation with Door-Tran, Busch has been instrumental in building the partnership with the
workforce arena.
The consortium contracted with WEP to review programs operated by other community transportation
systems and to market the consortium’s Communication Committee services through its website and
referral phone line. WEP also maintains a transportation information center within the Job Center, with
detailed information about transportation services and programs.
In 2008, Door County Transportation Options and Door-Tran partnered to sponsor a transportation fair.
Geared toward all community residents, the fair provided information on transportation options and
providers and served as a fundraiser. Similar activities are being considered for the future.
Information about Door-Tran is available at: http://www.door-tran.com/default.htm. For additional
information about WEP, Inc. visit http://wepinc.org/default.aspx or contact Pam Busch, Mobility
Manager at [email protected]. Information about the Door County Job Center is
available at: http://www.doorcountyjobcenter.org/.
With funding from the Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Federal Transit
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, the Joblinks Employment Transportation Center connects
communities with transportation-to-work solutions. Visit us at www.ctaa.org/joblinks.
This publication was prepared pursuant to a grant from the Employment and Training Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the authors and should
not be construed as representing the opinions or policy of any agency of the federal government. 2010