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.
Available funding
WSDOT anticipates awarding as much as $10 million in grant funding for the 2023-2025 biennium. This program is supported by state funding.
Match requirements
20 percent match is required for rideshare vehicle purchases for replacement, expansion, and vehicle equipment. No match is required for incentive-based projects.
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 these types of projects:
- Replacement vehicles
- Expansion vehicles
- Incentive costs
- Equipment
Important dates
- December 2024: Grant application is available in the Grants Management System (GMS) for the 2025-2027 biennium.
- January 2025: Applications are due in the Grants Management System.
- July 1, 2025: 2025-2027 biennium begins.
- June 30, 2027: 2025-2027 biennium ends.
Award prioritization
Tier 1
WSDOT will prioritize Public Transit Rideshare grant awards for:
- Replacement rideshare-vehicle requests
- Employer incentives
Evaluation criteria for replacement rideshare vehicles:
- Must be beyond the Federal Transit Administration’s minimum useful life standards (i.e., four years or 100,000 miles).
- Must be consistent with the applying agency’s transit development plan.
Transit agencies can apply for Public Transit Rideshare incentives to increase or maintain employee rideshare participation. Transit agencies can distribute incentives through employers.
Tier 2
WSDOT will give expansion vehicle and equipment replacement requests the lowest priority.
Scoring criteria
The selection committee will evaluate applications in four categories:
- Quality of application/application completeness
- Demonstration of need
- Readiness to proceed
- 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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