Transit Coordination

This 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.

This grant is supported by state funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) (100 percent). 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.

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logo saying 'Funded by Washington's Climate Commitment Act,' with an image of the outline of Washington state

 

Grant award amounts

We anticipate up to $2 million in competitive state-funded 2024 Supplemental Transit Coordination grants to prioritize projects that coordinate transit service to and from Washington State Ferries terminals.

Funding will be available for six months from Jan. 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.

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). 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). 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:

Evaluation criteriaMax points
Impact on service20
Impact on customer service15
Impact on administration/efficiencies15
Joint planning/coordination15
Readiness to proceed15
Transferability10
Innovation10
Total points possible100

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

  • TBD: 2024 supplemental awards announced.
  • TBD: 2024 supplemental projects begin.
  • June 30, 2025: 2023-2025 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.

Lead organizationPartner organizationsProject descriptionProject areaAward
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit AuthorityCommunity Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, King County Metro, Pierce TransitORCA & ORCA LIFT enhancementsKing, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish$1,700,000
King County MetroCommunity Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit, Seattle Department of Transportation, Washington State FerriesFree youth transit pass regional campaignKing, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish$300,000

Sign up for grant updates

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

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