Apply for a grant

Below you'll find information for prospective applicants for state and federal grants administered by WSDOT's Public Transportation Division. Grants are funded on a biennial (two-year) basis, though some grant programs may fund projects on a four-year cycle. The following types of organizations qualify for at least some of WSDOT's public transportation grants: cities, counties, nonprofit agencies, private operators, senior centers, special districts (such as schools and ports), state agencies, transit agencies, and tribes.

Grant-funded projects include:

• Services such as transit; paratransit; transportation for the elderly, people with disabilities, and rural communities; commute trip reduction; and transit-pass programs.
• Vehicles and equipment such as new buses, rideshare vehicles, and supporting equipment.
• Infrastructure such as transit centers, park and ride lots, transit-signal-priority systems, and transit lanes.

The Grants Management System is a one-stop hub for public transportation grant applications, invoicing, and more. If the application method shown in the grants-at-a-glance table is in the Grants Management System, you will need to register for system access. Contact the help desk at PTDGMSSupport@wsdot.wa.gov or 360-705-7711 for more information on registering for or navigating the Grants Management System.

Grant opportunities

2024 Supplemental Transit Coordination Grant

We are announcing a second call for projects for the 2024 Supplemental Transit Coordination grant program.

This state-funded grant program provides financial assistance for coordinated transit-related projects. The program encourages joint planning and coordination by central Puget Sound transit systems to improve user experience and increase ridership while making the most effective use of tax dollars.

For more information see the application instructions.

Available funding

There is nearly $1.7 million available for this second call for projects.

Funds are reimbursable for grant-related activities beginning Jan. 1 through June 30, 2025.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Integrating marketing efforts.
• Aligning fare structures.
• Integrating service planning.
• Coordinating long-range planning, including capital projects planning and implementation.
• Integrating other administrative functions and internal business processes, as appropriate.
• Integrating certain customer-focused tools and initiatives.

Eligible applicants are the transit agencies located in a county or counties with a population of 700,000 or more that border Puget Sound (i.e., King County Metro, Everett Transit, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit). Additionally, this supplemental notice of funding expands program eligibility to include proposals from transit agencies in counties with populations fewer than 700,000 that coordinate service to and from Washington State Ferries terminals (i.e., Clallam Transit, Island Transit, Jefferson Transit, Kitsap Transit, Mason Transit, Skagit Transit, Whatcom Transit).

The grant application opens in the Grants Management System on Dec. 30, 2024. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Jan. 30, 2025.

Public Transit Rideshare

We're accepting applications for the 2025-2027 Public Transit Rideshare Grant Program. For more information, see the notice of funding opportunity (PDF 442KB).

The goal of the Public Transit Rideshare grant program – formerly the Vanpool Investment Program – is to support rideshare programs at transit agencies across Washington.

Transit agencies use these grant funds to expand rideshare fleets, replace aging rideshare vehicles, and provide incentives to increase ridership. The funding allows transit agencies to purchase rideshare vehicles with alternative fuel types, including low-emission plug-in hybrids and zero-emission all-electric vehicles.

The Public Transit Rideshare Grant Program supports two eligible project types: 

Capital

• Rideshare vehicle replacement.
• Rideshare vehicle expansion.
• Rideshare vehicle equipment.

Incentives

• Projects funded by WSDOT must use incentives to optimize transportation infrastructure and travel behavior. Projects should use incentives to influence a shift in mode choice, improve travel time, and increase system efficiency.

Applicants should submit separate applications depending on the project type, capital or incentives.

Applications

We will post information here and on the webpages listed in the table below when grant opportunities become available. Applications will only be available between the application opening date and the due date. Applications may be completed using the Grants Management System or through coordination with WSDOT, depending on the grant program. More information is available by contacting our grants team.

Sign up for grant updates

To stay informed about WSDOT public transportation grants, you can register for updates by selecting “Public Transportation Grants” under “Funding” in the GovDelivery menu.

Grants at a glance

These tables provide an overview of key dates and application methods for the grants currently administered by WSDOT's Public Transportation Division. We will update the tables when grant programs are updated, added or completed.

Competitive grants

** Tribal transit funds will be awarded through the Consolidated Grant process for the 2025-2027 biennium. Interested tribal applicants must apply through the Consolidated Grant program.

*** This program is not funded beyond June 30, 2025. Dates shown above are for planning purposes if the program is funded in future biennia.

Discretionary grants

Formula grants

* Award date for state funds depends on the passage of the transportation budget.