WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is sending the Rhode Island Public Transit Administration (RIPTA) $1,259,560 that U.S. Senator Jack Reed secured last December for Job Access/ Reverse Commute Projects (JARC) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 Omnibus Appropriation Bill.RIPTA will use the federal funds to support several job access and reverse commute projects such as late night routes to major employment centers, Welfare to Work partnerships between RIPTA and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services in Woonsocket and West Warwick, and the "Working Disabled" pilot program in the Portsmouth/Tiverton area. It is essential that we ensure that Rhode Islanders have transportation to their workplaces. It is a key to their economic success and the economic success of the state, Reed stated. I fought for this funding because I believe increasing access to work is essential to promoting economic prosperity and the continued growth of Rhode Island. This funding is the first installment of a $1,650,000 appropriation Reed secured. The DOT will send RIPTA the balance for JARC later this year. Reed has secured $8.65 million for RIPTAs Job Access and Reverse Commute programs since FY 2001.