Vanpool Investment Program
Vanpool Investment Program grants support vanpool programs at transit agencies across Washington.
We provide state funds through Vanpool Investment Program (VIP) grants to support vanpool programs at transit agencies across Washington. Transit agencies use these funds to expand vanpool fleets, replace aging vans and provide incentives to employers to increase vanpool ridership. The funding allows transit agencies to purchase vans with alternative fuel types, including low-emission plug-in hybrids and zero-emission all-electric vans.
Washington has the largest public vanpool fleet in the nation. Each workday, more than 18,000 commuters ride in more than 3,000 vanpools. These vanpools improve air quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the number of cars on the road. This partnership between the state and transit agencies started in 2001 with 12 transit agencies and has since expanded to 22 transit agencies.
Available funding
WSDOT has $2 million in grant funding for the 2021-2023 biennium. This program is supported by state funding.
Match requirements
No match required.
Eligible applicants
All Washington state transit agencies are eligible to apply.
Eligible projects
The VIP capital grant program supports these types of projects:
- Vehicle replacement and expansion
- Incentives to promote vanpool ridesharing
Important dates
- July 1, 2021: 2021-2023 biennium begins.
- Oct. 1, 2021: Applications are available in the Grants Management System.
- 3 p.m., Nov. 2, 2021: Applications are due in the Grants Management System.
- November 2021: WSDOT evaluation panel reviews and scores applications.
- December 2021: WSDOT sends award letters to grantees.
- June 30, 2023: 2021-2023 biennium ends.
Award prioritization
Tier 1
WSDOT will prioritize VIP grant awards for:
- Replacement van requests
- Employer incentives
Evaluation criteria for replacement vans:
- 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 VIP incentives to increase or maintain employee vanpool participation. Transit agencies can distribute incentives through employers.
Tier 2
WSDOT will give vanpool fleet expansion requests the lowest priority.
Scoring criteria
The selection committee will evaluate application submittals in four categories.
- Quality of application/application completeness
- Demonstration of need
- Readiness to proceed
- Financial proposal
Awards
The 2021-2023 VIP grants table below shows 10 projects funded for $2 million. This includes $1,443,000 for the purchase of 58 vans and $557,000 for employer incentives.
|
Organization |
Project description |
Legislative district(s) |
Award |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Asotin County PTBA (Asotin County Public Transportation Benefit Area) |
Provides capital support the purchase of two vans (gasoline) |
9 |
$72,000 |
|
Grant Transit Authority (Grant County Public Transportation Benefit Area) |
Provides capital support the purchase of five vans (gasoline) |
12, 13 |
$120,000 |
|
Grays Harbor Transit (Grays Harbor Transportation Authority) |
Provides capital support the purchase of seven vans (gasoline) |
19, 20, 22, 24 |
$168,000 |
|
Intercity Transit |
Provides capital support the purchase of 12 vans (hybrid) |
2, 22, 28, 29, 35 |
$324,000 |
|
Intercity Transit |
Employer incentives to promote vanpool participation |
2, 22, 28, 29, 35 |
$55,500 |
|
Island Transit (Island County Public Transportation Benefit Area) |
Provides capital support the purchase of five vans (hybrid) |
2 |
$135,000 |
|
King County Metro Transit |
Employer incentives to promote vanpool participation in partnership with Pierce Transit and Kitsap Transit |
1, 2, 5, 11, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48 |
$501,500 |
|
King County Metro Transit |
Provides capital support the purchase of 12 vans (gasoline) |
1, 5, 11, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48 |
$288,000 |
|
Skagit Transit (Skagit Transit System) |
Provides capital support the purchase of nine vans (gasoline) |
10, 38, 39, 40 |
$216,000 |
|
Valley Transit |
Provides capital support the purchase of five vans (gasoline) |
16 |
$120,000 |
For more information, contact your local WSDOT Public Transportation community liaison.
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