No government agency provides transportation to childcare directly. However, funding may be available to help pay for transportation between home or school and your child's care program, if you meet certain conditions.

Who Can Get Transportation Funding

Transportation funding is available to families receiving a childcare subsidy through the income-eligible program, subject to funding availability. Your CCR&R determines eligibility based on factors including:

• Whether public transportation is available to you
• Whether you have a car
• Any physical incapacity that prevents you from transporting your child
• Whether your work schedule prevents you from getting your child to or from care

The Half-Mile Rule

• If you live within half a mile of your provider, you generally will not receive transportation funding
• If you live more than half a mile from your provider, you may be eligible if you lack personal or public transportation, or if a disability prevents you from using it

Exceptions to the Half-Mile Rule

Even if you live within half a mile, you may qualify if:

• Your work schedule doesn't allow time to walk your child to care and get to work on time
• Your child's disability prevents them from walking or being transported by stroller
• Your disability prevents you from walking your child to care (must be verified in writing by an M.D.)

When Public Transportation "Doesn't Count"

Public transportation is not considered "available" if:

• It doesn't run on the days and hours your schedules require
• It can't accommodate your or your child's disability
• The travel time from home to the childcare program is regularly more than 45 minutes
• The travel time from home to childcare to work is more than one hour

How Transportation Funding Works

• Programs are reimbursed at the EEC-approved rate for one-way or round-trip transportation
• The transportation may be provided by:
  • Your childcare provider directly
  • A transportation subcontractor arranged by the provider
  • Reimbursement for public transportation
  • Reimbursement for car share services (like Uber or Lyft)
  • For school-age children, coordination with local public school bus routes

Transportation and Service Need

• Time your child spends being transported by the provider between home and care does not count toward your service need hours
• Up to 5 hours per week that you spend traveling between work/school and childcare may be counted toward your service need

Provider Responsibilities

If your provider offers or coordinates transportation, they must:

• Develop written transportation policies
• Designate a staff person responsible for transportation
• Discuss their transportation policies with you
• Comply with Registry of Motor Vehicles standards and all EEC requirements

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Next Steps

• Need transportation help? Ask your CCR&R about transportation funding eligibility
• Choosing a provider? Ask about their transportation options — see Choosing a Provider (1.6)
• Your provider offers transportation? Make sure you understand their policies and schedule
• Have a disability affecting transportation? Get an M.D. verification letter and talk to your CCR&R
• Are you a provider? See Transportation (2.12)