$2.1 million in grants to promote ‘travel options’ available through Metro

Wayfinding signage is one type of
project eligible for funding
through the grants.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Metro has announced the availability of $2.1 million in federal grants through the Regional Travel Options (RTO) program. The money is set aside for both government agencies and non-profits for small-scale projects that promote biking, walking, and taking transit.

In this past, this grant program has funded projects like TriMet’s Open Trip Planner, Sunday Streets in Wilsonville, bike shelters in Forest Grove, walking maps and wayfinding signage in Tigard, and much more.

In an announcement yesterday, Metro included a more detailed list of eligible projects:

• Training or hiring staff or volunteers to promote transportation options to residents and employees.
• Helping businesses promote travel options to employees and coordinating outreach activities of partner’s employer and commuter programs.
• Supporting facilities for bicycling, walking, or running to work.
• Conducting neighborhood events that allow people to walk and bike on traffic-free streets.
• Encouraging walking, biking, and other forms of active transportation in order to support healthier, more active lifestyles, especially for minorities and low-income communities.
• Using personalized contact to motivate people to use travel options more frequently.
• Using signage and typically, an accompanying map, to help residents find amenities such as trails, shops, and downtown centers.
• Creating tools to help residents plan and make trips using transportation options.

To help newcomers to the grant process wade through the application requirements, Metro is hosting a grant workshop on January 9th from 10 am to noon at Metro Regional Center (600 NE Grand Ave).

Grant applications are due to Metro by February 22, 2013. Grant awards will be announced in early April, with funding available in July, 2013. If you’ve got an idea on how to promote biking, this is a great opportunity to get it funded. Good luck!