Transit Coordination

This grant is supported by state funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

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.

Grant award amounts

The Legislature funded $2 million during the 2023 session.

Eligible applicants

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). Ineligible applicants may partner on grant applications but cannot be lead applicants.

At least two eligible transit agencies must jointly propose an application. Applications must clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each partnering agency.

Eligible projects

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.

Match requirements

Applicants must provide matching funds as direct contributions of 10 percent of their total project cost. Direct contributions are cash or other assets that directly benefit the project and are fundamental to implementing the project.

Applicants may use any funding source other than competitive state public transportation grants as match.

Evaluation criteria

An independent review panel evaluates applications based on the following criteria:

WSDOT will prioritize eligible projects that propose to promote the formation of joint partnerships between transit agencies or merge service delivery across agencies over applications that propose traditional project types. 

Important dates

• April 2025: Applications available in the online Grants Management System (GMS).
• May 2025: Applications due.
• May - 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.

Awards

The Transit Coordination Grant table below shows two projects awarded $2 million from the 2023-2025 transportation budget.

Sign up for grant updates

To stay informed about WSDOT public transportation grants, you can register in GovDelivery.