General grants
The second round of funding has closed for the 2023-26 grant cycle within the General Grants track. The next round will open for applications in January 2025.
Small grants
Formerly called Sponsorships, applications for RTO Small Grants are accepted continually until all funds are awarded each fiscal year. All funds have been awarded for FY24 and new applications will be accepted beginning June 15, 2025.
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It’s not enough just to build a transportation system with options to walk, bike, take transit or ride share. People need to know how to access those options and understand the benefits. That’s where Metro’s Regional Travel Options program comes in.
The RTO program funds and supports transportation demand management strategies to increase the use of travel options, reduce pollution, and improve mobility. Travel options include anything besides driving alone – carpooling, vanpooling, riding transit, bicycling, walking, and telecommuting.
Travel options grant program
Awards for the second round of the 2023-26 grant cycle have been announced.
Government agencies, colleges, universities, public school districts or schools (K-12), and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for Regional Travel Options grants. Grant projects or programs must increase access to and use of travel options, and advance the goals, objectives, and priorities for transportation and land use defined in the Regional Transportation Plan and the Regional Travel Options Strategy.
Core and emerging partner track
The core and emerging partners track is intended for organizations that already have, or are working towards, a long-standing commitment to delivering travel options work as a key organizational function. This track is open on an invitation-only basis to local jurisdictions, school districts, and nonprofits. These grants support one to three-year projects, with $7 million allocated in 2023.
General grants track
The general grants track is intended to fund a variety of travel options initiatives and projects, including funding for organizations that do not necessarily have a transportation focus. The three categories within this track include:
- Travel Options Community Services: intended specifically to fund organizations that don’t necessarily focus on travel options as an organizational mission but are seeking to support travel options on behalf of the communities they serve
- Innovation: designed to encourage new tactics and approaches and reaching new audiences with travel options programming
- Infrastructure: this supports wayfinding, end-of-trip facilities, and other light infrastructure that makes using travel options safer and more enjoyable
Approximately $1 million was awarded in 2023 in the general grants track, and another $1.14 million is expected to be awarded during the 2024 and 2025 application rounds.
Small grants track
The third grant track, small grants, makes funding available on an ongoing basis and supports materials and supplies of up to $5,000 for activities that directly support the use of travel options. This application is available year-round. The track includes SRTS micro-grants; 25 micro-grants of $500 each are available to individual schools or nonprofit PTOs each school year.
How to apply
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the grant application handbook before getting started. It includes a full overview of the grant program, categories, eligibility requirements, application process and timeline. See the "Grantee Documents" section below to view the handbook and additional resources.