Second round grants
The second round of RTO General Grants were awarded in June 2024.
See the grantees from the second round
Metro will award $9.14 million to projects and programs that help reduce barriers and increase the number of choices people have when commuting and traveling around greater Portland. The grants are part of Metro’s Regional Travel Options program and will be distributed over three years, for projects conducted from July 2024 to June 2026.
Grant recipients include those who are educating others about different travel options and encouraging people to use additional modes of transportation, besides driving alone. These efforts reach people in their neighborhoods, schools and workplaces and build on decades of collaboration between the regional travel program, local governments and community organizations.
The 2023-26 grant cycle also funds new ideas and helps to build capacity for community partners working to reduce barriers to carpooling, vanpooling, transit, bicycling, walking, rolling, shared mobility and telecommuting.
“It’s so wonderful to see so much collaboration between our government partners and community-based organizations,” said Metro Councilor Ashton Simpson.
"As a previous recipient and manager of regional travel grants, I personally understand and have witnessed the major impacts these funds have on our kids, seniors, people living life with a disability, and working-class people. Giving people more options to move around the region is how we take care of people now and into the future,” said Simpson.
The regional travel program is guided by the 2018 Regional Transportation Plan, which documents how the program meets Metro’s transportation goals for greater Portland. The program focuses on three areas: commuting, developing and ensuring safe routes to school, and community-based travel needs.
The grants are funded through the Regional Flexible Fund allocation process with funding from the Federal Transit Administration.
Grants are distributed according to three funding tracks:
- Core and emerging partners are organizations that have, or are working towards, a long-standing commitment to delivering travel options. This track is open on an invitation-only basis to local jurisdictions, school districts, and nonprofits. It supports one to three-year projects, with $7 million allocated in 2023.
- General grants fund a variety of projects, including those from organizations that do not have a transportation focus. Approximately $1 million was awarded in this track for this cycle, and another $1.14 million is expected for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Projects range from one to three years.
- Small grants of up to $5,000 are available on an ongoing basis for materials and supplies that directly support people’s use of different modes of travel.
Learn more about Metro’s Regional Travel Options program and apply for a small grant, or email [email protected] for questions or assistance.
First round of 2023-26 Regional Travel Options grant awards
Core and Emerging Commute program grants
- City of Portland Bureau of Transportation received $187,500 for PBOT commute strategy development
- Clackamas Community College received $173,410 for a student transportation needs assessment and marketing program
- Clackamas County received $215,000 to develop a Clackamas County Travel Options Action Plan
- Go Lloyd received $170,178 for employer and commuter outreach programs
- Portland Community College received $178,312 for transit options for students
- Portland State University received $225,000 for the PSU bike hub
- SMART - City of Wilsonville received $225,000 for their commute options programming
- TriMet received $1,236,000 for their employer outreach program
- Westside Transportation Alliance received $375,000 for advancing travel options in Washington County
Core and Emerging Safe Routes to School program grants
- Beaverton School District received $225,000 for Beaverton Safe Routes to School
- City of Hillsboro received $175,000 for Hillsboro Safe Routes to School
- City of Portland Bureau of Transportation received $119,340 for Portland High School programming
- City of Tigard received $225,000 for Tigard-Tualatin Safe Routes to School
- Community Cycling Center received $199,519 for CCC Safe Routes to School
- Multnomah County Transportation received $150,000 for East Multnomah County Safe Routes to School
- p:ear received $200,000 for Safe Routes to School in East Portland
- SMART - City of Wilsonville received $175,000 for SMART Safe Routes to School
- The Street Trust received $200,000 for Clackamas County Safe Routes to School
Core and Emerging Community program grants
- City of Portland Bureau of Transportation received $1,095,000 for Equitable Options Empowered People TDM programming
- Community Cycling Center received $146,232 for New Columbia Repair Hub and mobile bike event support
- Oregon Walks received $245,000 for community informed walking programs
- p:ear received $200,000 for Everybody Bikes! free bike referral program
- Ride Connection, Inc. received $375,000 for RideWise Travel Training and Mobility Support
- The Street Trust received $200,000 for developing a strategy for their travel options program
Regional Travel Options general grants
- City of Gresham received $9,906 to install a traffic playground at Davis Park
- Explore Washington Park received $150,000 for TriMet pass program support
- Forth Mobility Fund received $150,000 for an e-cargo bike educational pilot
- Ride Connection, Inc. received $375,000 for Mobility for Health regional programming
- Division Midway Alliance received $158,406 for Transit Education and Safety Youth Ambassador program
- Northwest Housing Alternatives received $150,000 for transit assistance for low-income residents