Regional Mobility Grant

The Washington State Department of Transportation administers the Regional Mobility Grant program as a state-funded program authorized under RCW 47.66.030. The program is intended to support projects that improve connectivity between counties and regional population centers while also reducing transportation delay. WSDOT positions the program as a tool for delivering public benefits as quickly as possible, and the current notice covers the 2027-2029 funding cycle. The program is focused on public transportation and related mobility investments that can demonstrate measurable transportation benefits, especially reductions in vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled. The grant is open only to eligible applicants in Washington state. Eligible entities include cities, counties, ports, public transit agencies, regional transit authorities, regional transportation planning organizations, and metropolitan planning organizations. WSDOT requires that applicants be able to show a reduction in vehicle travel through fewer vehicle trips and lower vehicle miles traveled. This requirement is central to program eligibility and project competitiveness. Applicants may submit more than one project, but each project must be advanced separately through the application process. The program supports four main project types. Vehicle and equipment purchases may include passenger service vehicles, electric vehicle charging equipment tied to eligible transit purposes, communications equipment, hardware, software, data systems, multimodal enhancements such as bicycle racks, and security equipment. Capital construction may include passenger transfer centers, bus-only or high-occupancy vehicle lanes, shelters, platforms, stations, transit access improvements, transit signal priority improvements, queue jumps, bypasses, and park-and-ride facilities. Operating projects may support new, expanded, or more frequent bus routes, as well as new community connections or corridors that serve multiple communities. Transportation demand management projects may include commute trip reduction efforts, mode-shift strategies, rideshare or transit service tied to construction or major events, software that coordinates trip reduction strategies, and other concepts identified through WSDOT's Transportation Systems Management and Operations framework. The notice includes important restrictions and submission conditions. Projects may be proposed as either two-year or four-year projects. A pre-application was mandatory before a full application could be submitted, and only organizations with a reviewed pre-application are eligible to move forward to the full grant stage. WSDOT states that all full applications must be submitted through the online Grants Management System. The agency does not accept late applications and encourages early submission to avoid technical or procedural problems. Supporting materials must be uploaded in PDF or Excel format, and encrypted attachments are not allowed. For transportation demand management proposals, the application must also include a description of the TSMO strategies being considered for the proposed project. Cost share is required. Applicants must provide matching funds equal to at least 20 percent of the total project cost, and the match must be provided as direct contributions. WSDOT defines direct contributions as cash or other assets that directly benefit the project and are fundamental to implementation. Other competitive state public transportation grants may not be used as the match source. Applications are evaluated by an independent review panel using four main criteria: reduction of delay, improvement of connectivity, project performance in relation to vehicle trip and vehicle miles traveled reductions, and readiness to proceed. Readiness includes alignment with local plans and the ability to minimize scope, schedule, and budget risks while delivering benefits on schedule. The current cycle includes a defined timeline. The pre-application became available on February 3, 2026, and the pre-application deadline was March 3, 2026. WSDOT posted the informational notice of funding opportunity on April 9, 2026, and the full application opens on May 7, 2026. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on June 30, 2026, with revised applications due by 3 p.m. on August 27, 2026 if revisions are requested during WSDOT review. Independent panel review is scheduled for late summer and fall 2026, and WSDOT expects to send its prioritized list to the Legislature and Governor's Office on November 29, 2026. Award letters are expected in May to June 2027, subject to enactment of the state budget. The biennium begins July 1, 2027 and ends June 30, 2029. For program contact, the provided email is PTDGrants@wsdot.wa.gov, and the application materials are tied to the WSDOT public transportation grants process. The cycle structure and references to prior and current biennium awards indicate that this is a recurring program with a biennial pattern rather than a one-time opportunity.

Show clear reductions in delay, vehicle trips, and vehicle miles traveled; emphasize improved regional connectivity; demonstrate readiness through local plan alignment and low scope, schedule, and budget risk; submit early in GMS; include a clear TSMO strategy when applicable