Workforce Transportation for CBA’s step program

The Coalition of Better Acre (CBA), based in Lowell, MA, had developed an innovative workforce program, STEP (Supported Training and Education Program), which is focused on providing residents of Lowell's Acre neighborhood training for high-tech manufacturing and other skilled labor jobs. After graduating from the STEP program, graduates were offered employment in the Devens, MA area with partner companies. To make the program a success, all STEP graduates would require to have safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options from Lowell to Devens – a route not currently served by public transit.

Lowell is 30 miles away from Devens -the lack of direct, reliable, public transportation creates a barrier for many participants -it can take over two hours one way!

IDTT partnered with QRyde in managing the transportation services for the CBA graduates with 3rd party transportation providers to provide door-to-door transportation for employers in Devens.

Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA) is a membership-based community development corporation dedicated to resident empowerment and sustainable community revitalization for current and future residents of Lowell and the Merrimack Valley. As a community development corporation (CDC), CBA is a professional, not-for-profit organization providing economic development, real estate development, and resident empowerment to promote and support our community and region. (www.cbacre.org)

QRyde is connecting communities through transportation, and energizing communities by providing the QRyde Marketplace and a complete set of tools and technologies so communities and transportation providers alike can create the transportation network they need. QRyde operates in dozens of communities in states across the country, as well as internationally in India and, soon, western Africa. (www.qryde.com)

To see a recent article from the Lowell Sun - Click here