Apply for a grant

You can find funding opportunities and information on applying for your public transportation grant using our grants-at-a-glance table. This table identifies the name of the grant, application opening date and due dates, award date, and application method.

Below you'll find information for prospective applicants for state and federal grants administered by WSDOT's Public Transportation Division. Grants are funded on a biennial (two-year) basis, though some grant programs may fund projects on a four-year cycle. The following types of organizations qualify for at least some of WSDOT's public transportation grants: cities, counties, nonprofit agencies, private operators, senior centers, special districts (such as schools and ports), state agencies, transit agencies, and tribes.

Grant-funded projects include:

  • Services such as transit; paratransit; transportation for the elderly, people with disabilities, and rural communities; commute trip reduction; and transit-pass programs.
  • Vehicles and equipment such as new buses, rideshare vehicles, and supporting equipment.
  • Infrastructure such as transit centers, park and ride lots, transit-signal-priority systems, and transit lanes.

The Grants Management System is a one-stop hub for public transportation grant applications, invoicing, and more. If the application method shown in the grants-at-a-glance table is in the Grants Management System, you will need to register for system access. Contact the help desk at PTDGMSSupport@wsdot.wa.gov or 360-705-7711 for more information on registering for or navigating the Grants Management System.

Grant opportunities

2024 Supplemental Transit Coordination Grant

We're accepting applications for the 2024 Supplemental Transit Coordination Grant Program. For more information see the notice of funding opportunity (PDF 359KB).

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.

We anticipate up to $2 million in competitive state-funded 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 are the 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).

The application is open in the Grants Management System. Applications are due 3 p.m. Nov. 12, 2024. 

Applications

We will post information here and on the webpages listed in the table below when grant opportunities become available. Applications will only be available between the application opening date and the due date. Applications may be completed using the Grants Management System or through coordination with WSDOT, depending on the grant program. More information is available by contacting our grants team.

Sign up for grant updates

To stay informed about WSDOT public transportation grants, you can register for updates by selecting “Public Transportation Grants” under “Funding” in the GovDelivery menu.

Grants at a glance

These tables provide an overview of key dates and application methods for the grants currently administered by WSDOT's Public Transportation Division. We will update the tables when grant programs are updated, added or completed.

Competitive grants

Grant program

Application open date

Application due date

Approximate award date

Application method

Regional Mobility 2025-2027February 2024 (pre application)March 5, 2024 (pre application)June 2025Grants Management System
Consolidated 2025-2027 (includes Paratransit/Special Needs, and Rural Mobility competitive grants)June 2024September 2024May 2025Grants Management System
Tribal Transit Mobility 2025-2027**June 2024August 2024May 2025Grants Management System
Green Transportation Capital 2025-2027July 2024September 2024June 2025Grants Management System
State Buses and Bus Facilities 2025-2027September 2024November 2024June 2025Grants Management System
Public Transit Rideshare 2025-2027December 2024January 2025June 2025Grants Management System
Rural Transit Assistance 2025-2027February 2025March 2025April 2025Grants Management System
Transit Coordination 2025-2027April 2025May 2025May - June 2025Grants Management System
Zero-emissions Access Program 2025-2027***April 2025May 2025June 2025Grants Management System

** Tribal transit funds will be awarded through the Consolidated Grant process for the 2025-2027 biennium. Interested tribal applicants must apply through the Consolidated Grant program.

*** This program is not funded beyond June 30, 2025. Dates shown above are for planning purposes if the program is funded in future biennia.

Discretionary grants

Grant program

Application open date

Application due date

Approximate award dateApplication method
Discretionary – Bus and Bus Facilities – 5339(b) federal fiscal year 2024January 2024April 2024June 2024Coordination with WSDOT
Discretionary – Low or No Emissions – 5339(c) federal fiscal year 2024January 2024April 2024June 2024Coordination with WSDOT

Formula grants

Grant programApplication open dateApplication due dateApproximate award dateApplication method
Rural Mobility 2024-2025 - formulaNot applicableNot applicableJuly 2024*Not applicable (formula distribution)
Transit Support Grant 2025-2027Not applicableNot applicableMay - June 2025Not applicable (formula distribution)
Paratransit/Special Needs 2025-2027 - formulaNot applicableNot applicableJune 2025Not applicable (formula distribution)
Commute Trip Reduction 2025-2027Not applicableNot applicableJune
(odd years)*		Not applicable (formula distribution)

* Award date for state funds depends on the passage of the transportation budget.

Contact information

WSDOT public transportation grants
PTDGrants@wsdot.wa.gov

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