Grants
Funding transportation projects that serve older adults and people with disabilities
Cherriots administers three grants for transportation projects that serve older adults and people with disabilities in Marion and Polk counties. Funding comes from three different sources: the State Special Transportation Fund (STF), Federal Section 5310 funds passed through the Oregon Department of Transportation (5310(ODOT)), and Federal Section 5310 funds that come directly to Cherriots from the Federal Transit Administration (5310(FTA)). Cherriots is the STF Agency for Marion and Polk Counties, and as such, the District screens the projects that go to ODOT and FTA for final approval. The three grants are governed by the ODOT State Management Plan and the Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan (The Coordinated Plan), dated September 2019. The 5310(FTA) grant follows the process and procedures outlined in the Program Management Plan for the Salem and Keizer Urbanized Area’s Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (PMP).
Details such as eligible applicants, eligible projects, and project selection criteria can be found in the application instructions below. View each section below for details regarding each grant type and available application forms.
Applications are now open for STIF Discretionary and STN Funding
The program guidance and application for the STIF Discretionary Fund and Statewide Transit Network (STN) Fund programs are now available to applicants for the 2021-23 biennium. The STN Fund Program includes the disbursal of FTA Section 5311(f) Intercity funds. The agreement period for grant awards will be July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023. Applications are due to ODOT no later than Monday, Nov. 2, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
The program guidance details everything an applicant needs to know about these programs, including applicant and project eligibility, estimated funds that will be available, the solicitation schedule, project selection criteria, and application instructions.
Applicants may access the application form HERE.
Webinar available to help applicants through the process
A Solicitation Training webinar for these fund programs will be held 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5. A registration link for the webinar will be posted on this page later this month.
Special Transportation Fund Grants
The Special Transportation Fund (STF) Program provides a flexible, coordinated, reliable, and continuing source of revenue in support of transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities of any age. The Oregon Legislature intended that STF funds be used to provide transportation services needed to access health services, education, work, and social/recreational opportunities so that seniors and people with disabilities may live as independently and productively as possible. The funds may be used for any purpose directly related to transportation services, including transit operations, capital equipment, planning, travel training, and other transit-related purposes. These funds will be awarded to applicants within Cherriots STF region (Marion and Polk Counties). There are no local match requirements for STF awards. STF dollars may be used as a local match for federally funded projects.
STF grants are available every two years. The current biennial cycle ends on June 30, 2021. Applications for STF grants are currently closed. Applications will be available in December 2021 for the 2021-2023 biennium.