Public Transit Rideshare
The Public Transit Rideshare grant program—formerly the Vanpool Investment Program—supports 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.
Washington has the largest public rideshare fleet in the nation. Each workday, around 18,000 commuters travel in more than 3,000 rideshare vehicles. These rideshares improve air quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce the number of cars on the road. The state's partnership with transit agencies began with 12 transit agencies in 2001 and has since expanded to 22 transit agencies across Washington.
Notice of funding opportunity
The 2025-2027 Public Transit Rideshare grant program’s notice of funding opportunity (PDF 442KB) is now available. The application will open Dec. 10, 2024.
Available funding
In the 2023-2025 biennium, WSDOT had approximately $10 million in grant funding for the Public Transit Rideshare Grant. The Legislature will determine the funding level for the 2025-2027 biennium in the 2025 legislative session.
Eligible applicants
Washington state transit agencies are eligible to apply, including:
- City transit systems under RCW 35.58.2721 or chapter 35.95A RCW.
- County public transportation authorities under chapter 36.57 RCW.
- Metropolitan municipal corporation transit systems under chapter 36.56 RCW.
- Public transportation benefit areas under chapter 36.57A RCW.
- Unincorporated transportation benefit areas under RCW 36.57.100.
- Special-purpose districts formed to operate a public transportation system.
Eligible projects
The Public Transit Rideshare capital 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.
Match requirements
Public Transit Rideshare Grant Program applicants must provide matching funds for each capital project. The program doesn’t require match for incentive projects.
The program uses a tiered match approach to determine the minimum required match an applicant must provide for vehicle replacement, vehicle expansion, and/or vehicle equipment. Match is determined by the transit agency’s most recent operating budget reported to the Washington State Transit Association.
| Tier Level | Operating budget | Required match |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $35 million or more | 20 percent |
| Tier 2 | $20 million to 34.9 million | 15 percent |
| Tier 3 | $10 million to 19.9 million | 10 percent |
| Tier 4 | $5 million to 9.9 million | 5 percent |
| Tier 5 | Less than $5 million | 0 percent |
Applicants may use other grants as match except for competitive state-funded grants administered by WSDOT’s Public Transportation Division. Sources of matching funds may include local, state (other than WSDOT Public Transit Division competitive grants), federal, or private funding. Applicants may use Transit Support formula funds as match for this competitive program.
Important dates
- Dec. 10 2024: Applications available in the Grants Management System (GMS).
- 3 p.m. Jan. 21, 2025: Applications due.
- June 2025: Awards announced.
- July 1, 2025: 2025-2027 biennium begins.
- June 30, 2027: 2025-2027 biennium ends, at which time all funded projects must be completed.
Scoring criteria
The selection committee will evaluate applications in four categories:
- Quality of application/application completeness.
- Demonstration of need.
- Readiness to proceed and feasibility.
- Financial proposal.
Awards
The 2023-2025 Public Transit Rideshare grants table below shows 23 projects funded for $9.8 million. This includes $9,484,431 for purchase of 230 vehicles, $254,050 for employer incentives, and $117,840 for equipment.
| Organization | Legislative district(s) | Project description | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asotin County PTBA (Asotin County Public Transportation Benefit Area) | 9 | Capital support for purchase of three replacement vans (gasoline) | $108,000 |
| Ben Franklin Transit (Benton-Franklin Public Transportation) | 8, 9, 16 | Capital support for purchase of 80 replacement vans (gasoline) | $3,601,600 |
| Ben Franklin Transit (Benton-Franklin Public Transportation) | 8, 9, 16 | Capital support for purchase of 10 expansion SUVs (gasoline) | $440,000 |
| Ben Franklin Transit (Benton-Franklin Public Transportation) | 8, 9, 16 | Capital support for equipment purchase | $38,800 |
| Clallam Transit System (Clallam County Public Transportation Benefit Area) | 24 | Capital support for purchase of 12 replacement vans (gasoline) | $408,000 |
| Columbia County Public Transportation | 9 | Incentives to promote rideshare participation | $15,000 |
| Columbia County Public Transportation | 9 | Capital support for purchase of one replacement SUV (hybrid) | $38,400 |
| Community Transit (Snohomish County Public Transit Benefit Area Corp.) | 1, 10, 12, 21, 32, 38, 39, 44 | Capital support purchase of seven replacement vans (hybrid) and five replacement sedans (zero-emission) | $404,000 |
| C-TRAN (Clark County Public Transit Agency) | 17, 18, 49 | Capital support for purchase of 12 replacement vans (gasoline) | $444,893 |
| C-TRAN (Clark County Public Transit Agency) | 17, 18, 49 | Incentives to promote rideshare participation | $8,700 |
| Grant Transit Authority (Grant County Public Transportation Benefit Area) | 12, 13 | Capital support for purchase of three replacement SUVs and two vans (gasoline) | $203,200 |
| Grays Harbor Transit (Grays Harbor Transportation Authority) | 19, 20, 22, 24, 25 | Capital support for purchase of seven replacement vans (gasoline) | $320,477 |
| Intercity Transit | 2, 5, 11, 20, 22, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 48 | Provides capital support the purchase of 20 vans (hybrid) | $710,208 |
| Intercity Transit | 2, 5, 11, 20, 22, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 48 | Incentives to promote rideshare participation | $111,000 |
| Kitsap Transit (Kitsap County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority) | 26 | Capital support for purchase of equipment and five expansion SUVs (zero-emission) | $235,440 |
| Link Transit (Chelan Douglas Public Transportation Benefit Area) | 7, 12 | Capital support for purchase of six expansion vans (gasoline) | $211,200 |
| Pierce Transit (Pierce County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation) | 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 47 | Capital support for purchase of 10 replacement vans (gasoline) | $388,160 |
| Skagit Transit (Skagit Transit System) | 10, 34, 37, 38, 39, 40 | Capital support for purchase of seven replacement vans (gasoline) | $299,418 |
| Skagit Transit (Skagit Transit System) | 10, 34, 37, 38, 39, 40 | Capital support for purchase of four expansion vans (gasoline) | $187,669 |
| STA (Spokane Transit Authority) | 3, 4, 6 | Incentives to promote rideshare participation | $119,350 |
| STA (Spokane Transit Authority) | 3, 4, 6 | Capital support for purchase of 22 replacement vans (gasoline) | $934,007 |
| STA (Spokane Transit Authority) | 3, 4, 6 | Capital support for equipment purchase | $72,000 |
| WTA (Whatcom Transportation Authority) | 10, 38, 40, 42 | Capital support for purchase of 12 replacement vans (gasoline) and two replacement vans (hybrid) | $556,800 |
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