Organizations serving clients with immediate transportation needs can apply to the Regional Transportation District for a Transit Assistance Grant from Friday to the end of the month.
Qualified organizations can apply for grants in the form of RTD fares, transit authorities said in a news release. Officials said $1 million has been allocated to the grant program for those who distribute fare payment media to clients free of charge.
The TAG program was launched in 2024 and funded 181 area organizations. The program was initiated in response to RTD’s 2023 systemwide fare study and equity analysis.
The program is a temporary measure for customers who have urgent transportation-related needs and to give organizations time to educate and enroll clients in RTD’s income-based fare discount program for eligible customers, dubbed program LiVE.
“The TAG program had a huge impact in 2024 positively affecting over 55,000 individuals,” RTD Manager of Market Development Theresa Rinker said in the news release. “We have heard from many of the nonprofit organizations that there is a great need in our community for no-cost fares for those with immediate transit needs, including individuals awaiting enrollment in the agency’s LiVE program. We are so pleased to be able to offer this grant funding again in 2025.”
There will be an application support webinar held from 1-2 p.m. on Jan. 23. To join online, people can visit the Transit Assistance Grant web page and scroll to the bottom.
To be considered for TAG funding, an agency or organization must be a nonprofit designated as exempt from federal income tax under the IRS 501(c)(3) designation, or be a governmental community or social service agency and provide assistance to clients with immediate transportation needs. Those needs included the following:
• Individuals applying for LiVE: This is a stopgap for those applying for the RTD LiVE Program. This may include individuals who utilize RTD to access training programs and employment services.
• Crisis intervention: Transporting individuals in crises, such as domestic violence victims seeking shelter, to safe and supportive environments.
• Access to essential services: This ensures that vulnerable populations, such as seniors, people with disabilities, low-income individuals, refugees, and others, have reliable transportation to access essential services, such as groceries, pharmacies, mental health, and medical appointments.
• Homelessness support: This offers transportation solutions to help homeless people access shelters, social services, or employment opportunities.
• Emergency support: This extends to individuals experiencing a crisis or a situation that threatens their personal safety. This is not a chronic condition but a time-bound emergent situation.
A panel comprised of RTD staff will determine grant recipient selection based on clear and transparent evaluation criteria, including whether an organization:
• Has a nonprofit status, a partnership with a fiscal agent that has nonprofit status or is a government agency
• Serves the immediate-needs clients as described in the grant description
• Agrees to participate in a mandatory annual eligibility and documentation process that ensures recipients meet the program criteria
Authorities encouraged applicants to attend the informational webinar on Jan. 23.
