Project Success Navigates Transportation Barriers in 2021

Transportation is central to human life. Healthcare, education, economic opportunities, and recreational and cultural spaces are all made accessible by transportation. Transportation access had been directly linked to higher employment rates and better health outcomes, and also has immeasurable benefits in connecting people to opportunities. But the reliability, affordability, accessibility, quality and safety of transportation is not the same for everyone.   

From in-school to after school programs to back home, reliable transportation fuels independence, connection, and opportunity for young people, but the AfterSchool Alliance recently reported that lack of safe transportation to and from out-of-school time programs is a major barrier to participation. Fifty-eight percent of parents in low-income households report that lack of safe transportation is a barrier to their students’ participation – up from 39% in 2014. Project Success is unique in its ability to offer transportation for students and families to and from their homes for all programs, if needed. 

Data analysis by Minneapolis Public Schools shows that if a student participates in a Project Success  program outside of school, they are more likely to increase their grade point average and graduate on time. The more often they participate (or their “dosage”) the higher the academic impact. But many of our students have told us that their participation would likely significantly drop if we were to stop or slow our commitment to providing transportation. Many express safety concerns about public transportation (particularly early in the morning and at night).  

 During the 2017-18 school year, PS provided nearly 1,500 rides for students. That demand increased by 25% to 1,875 rides the following year, with the opening of the Project Success Institute. We expect the demand to continue to rise this year to 2,000 as the popularity of our life- and career-readiness certificate courses at the Institute increases.   

Meeting our students where they are 

Despite the growing demand of transportation amidst the years-long bus driver storage that has accelerated due to COVID-19, since 1994, Project Success has made it our mission to not only provide programming connecting students to their purpose, but to continually provide transportation for students, and students’ families to reach said programming and PS experiences.  

While we’re only halfway into the school year, Project Success has footed the bill of more than $70,000 to ensure transportation needs are met for students along with screening and training volunteer drivers. Project Success has also hired drivers to supplement the volunteer staff in order to meet demand. Why all the effort and expenses for transportation?   

As the Outdoor Adventures & Global Experiences Program Manager, Jenny Batten, has shared, “Kids first is our very first value…It is never assumed that families need transportation, but as long as it is offered up front, that means that anyone, at any time, has equal access.” Standing by our promise to our students and families, we aren’t cutting back programming, and we continue to provide transportation to all of our events and experiences.      

Providing equal access to transportation 

Lessening the opportunity gap for students isn’t merely providing programming, but also ensuring that students have the ability and equal access to reach that programming such as middle school musical rehearsals, college tours, boundary waters canoe trips, theater, PS Institute courses, and much more. Students can rest easy knowing they will be able to participate and experience something new, or refine a skill or interest that already exists. From volunteer drivers in their own cars to professional drivers in coach buses, accommodations are necessary to maintain equitable access to PS, schools, theaters, and other spaces for our students. Equitable transportation access includes more than a simple ride – it also comes in the form of lift buses to accommodate students in wheelchairs, having car seats for families with babies or younger children, and having drivers who speak other languages in addition to English. At Project Success, access comes in the form of connections, community, and accessibility for all students no matter their backgrounds or needs.    

Jenny Batten shares, “When we provide students a way to access theater, college tours and after school programs, we’re saying that they are welcome and belong in those spaces. Just as much as anyone else.”