Regional Travel Options (RTO) grants - Mini grants and school resources track

Regional Travel Options (RTO) grants - Mini grants and school resources track is sponsored by Metro (Portland Metropolitan Planning Area). These mini-grants and school resources are for specific, one-time purchases of materials and services to support events, education, and outreach activities that promote the use of travel options (biking, walking, shared mobility, public transit, telecommuting, carpool, and vanpo…

Metro awards more than $8 million to support programs that increase access to travel options | Metro Eighteen organizations were awarded Regional Travel Options grants to support walking, biking, ride sharing, telecommuting and public transit use.

Metro's Regional Travel Options program (RTO) is how Metro invests in transportation demand management programs that inform and encourage people to walk, bike, roll, take transit and rideshare. Central to the RTO program are grants to support projects and programs that educate, encourage and support people in accessing travel options. For the 2027-29 funding cycle, the Regional Travel Options grant program awarded $8.

36 million to advance the three RTO program areas through June 30, 2029: commute, community and Safe Routes to School. This funding comes from federal dollars that are distributed through Metro’s Regional Flexible Fund Allocation process. “Regional Travel Options are among Metro’s most impactful grants.

While the projects vary, each of our awardees are creating human-centered ways to get people where they need to go safely, in ways that reduce emissions and congestion,” said Metro Councilor Christine Lewis.

“These funds will help low-income Clackamas Community College students get to class, teach elementary students how to get to school independently, get commuter-bikes into the hands of east Multnomah County residents—and that’s just scratching the surface. ” School staff showing off new crossing guard safety vests and signs in Centennial School District.

Every three years, the RTO program invites regional partners—including local jurisdictions, school districts and community-based organizations—to apply for the core and emerging grant track. Partners invited to apply have longstanding commitments to delivering essential, ongoing travel option programs and services and are the primary implementers of the Regional TDM Strategy, adopted by Metro Council in April 2026.

Core partners operate fully developed programs that deliver regionally significant services, while emerging partners receive support to develop and refine their suite of ongoing TDM services and advance toward core partner status.

2027-29 Regional Travel Options core and emerging grantees Beaverton School District, Safe Routes to School: $265,000 City of Hillsboro, Safe Routes to School: $200,000 City of Portland Bureau of Transportation, Commute and Community: $1.

8 million City of Portland Bureau of Transportation, Safe Routes to School: $125,000 City of Tigard, Safe Routes to School: $265,000 Clackamas Community College, Commute: $173,410 Clackamas County, Commute: $225,000 Community Cycling Center, Community and Safe Routes to School: $400,000 Division Midway Alliance, Community: $180,000 Explore Washington Park (Emerging), Community: $105,00 Go Lloyd, Commute: $190,000 Multnomah County Transportation, Safe Routes to School: $85,000 Oregon Walks, Community and Safe Routes to School: $305,000 P:ear, Community and Safe Routes to School: $450,000 Ride Connection, Community: $830,000 SMART - City of Wilsonville, Commute and Safe Routes to School: $425,000 The Street Trust, Community and Safe Routes to School: $480,000 TriMet, Commute: $1,350,000 TriMet, Commute and Community: $100,000 Westside Transportation Alliance, Commute: $415,000 Regional Travel Demand Management strategy impact and alignment Grantees for the 2027-29 Regional Travel Options grant cycle organized new and ongoing work in alignment with the five new policies created in the recent Regional Travel Demand Management (TDM) Strategy .

In April 2026, Metro Council adopted the Regional Travel Demand Management (TDM) Strategy developed policies, supporting strategies and defined roles to ensure travel demand management programs are meaningful and appropriate for communities across the region.

By creating a shared framework for travel demand management work in the region, Metro and partners can better assess how our investments advance new policies and impact communities.

Some of the new policies that informed the FY 2027-2029 core and emerging grantee activities include: Commute programs include one or more incentive programs for participants, ranging from rewards for logging travel options trips, workplace provided transit passes and free safety items for event participants.

Community program grantees provide community education and programming that is place-based and inclusive, with activities including personalized trip planning in multiple languages and tailored resources to help community members feel confident using travel options.

Safe Routes to School programs are aligned across strategies to improve regional collaboration and expansion of successful program models, including working with districts to collect student travel data, supporting walking school bus expansion and delivering Learn to Ride education in the classroom and the community.

Regional Transportation Demand Management strategy Metro's 10-year strategy to improve residents’ access to transportation demand management programs and services. Regional Travel Options grants Regional Travel Options grants support efforts that increase walking, biking, ride sharing, telecommuting and public transit use.

Regional Travel Options program The Regional Travel Options program creates safe, vibrant and livable communities by providing grants and supporting efforts that increase walking, biking, ride sharing, telecommuting and public transit use.

Regional Travel Options grants provide funding to support projects and programs that educate, encourage and provide information to people in order to increase their use of and access to travel options. Learn more about grants that are currently open and who is eligible to apply.