Transportation Services
“EASTCONN Transportation’s ‘Rides for Jobs’ service provides an invaluable resource for the participation in the Jobs First program. In this rural area and these difficult times, reliable transportation can make the difference between success and failure for working families. The Transportation staff make the entire process user-friendly and easily accessible, so our families have one less thing to worry about.” — Mary Ellen Nedoroscik, JFES Case Manager, CTWorks, Danielson
A number of Transportation’s certified drivers pose in front of a few of the agency’s 100 specially equipped vehicles, which traveled 2.5 million miles this year, assisting more than 500 students in 24 districts across the region. • Increased the number of teen driving students by 25% from last year. • Increased enrollment in the mandatory 8-hour Safe Driving Practices class by 30%, a reflection of the current economy, with more parents electing to fulfill other, additional, driver education requirements through the home-training option. • Promoted the driving school at the Willimantic “Third Thursday” event.
2010-2011 Challenges Driver Personnel Shortages It is very challenging to find prospective drivers who are qualified and willing to participate in the pre-employment mandated training, and then who are able to wait the 12-16 weeks it takes to receive the required Department of Motor Vehicle-issued certification; many applicants lack the financial means to wait more than 3 months to begin earning a paycheck, and often find other employment in the interim; others lack sufficient English-language ability to participate in training or to carry out necessary job tasks.
Driver Education Expansion To increase the number of driver education classes offered, more licensed instructors, who are difficult to find, must be hired, particularly those who are also fluent in Spanish. g
Plans & Implications for 2011-2012 Expand Regional Participation Continue increasing the number of districts participating in the agency’s regionally coordinated transportation system for children with special needs. g
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Driver Education, whose logo is above, increased enrollment in its 8-hour Safe Driving Practices class by 30% and increased the number of teen driving students by 25%.
Budgeting Challenges Fluctuating fuel prices make it difficult to budget effectively and efficiently. g
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Staffing • Continue to seek effective strategies for recruiting and retaining quality drivers and driver education instructors, including exploring a “grow our own” initiative. g
• Explore collaborating with the agency’s Adult Education division to provide English-as-a-SecondLanguage instruction that is customized to include job-related language for potential driver applicants. • Aggressively market the new 8-hour defensive driving course.