General grants
The next RTO General Grant cycle application opens on Jan. 3, 2024
Apply for small grants
Formerly called Sponsorships, applications for RTO Small Grants are accepted on a continual basis.
Apply for a small grant
Stay in touch
Get email updates on Regional Travel Options program activities and announcements.
Subscribe
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 first round of the 2023-26 grant cycle have been announced. Applications for the second round of funding will open in January 2024.
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 for this cycle in the general grants track, and another $1.14 million is expected for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
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.