Access Transit: Fare Relief Program

Requirements

✔️ Who can apply?

The program provides grants to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that purchase TriMet fares, which are disbursed to low-income recipients. To be eligible, organizations must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Must serve low-income clients
• Must serve a majority of clients whose residence is in the TriMet service area
• Must use the fares to help low-income clients access services critical to employment, housing and personal stability
• Must be in good account standing with TriMet
• Must agree to only distribute fares to its clients
• Must agree to not supplant existing resources dedicated to fare purchase

✔️ Criteria

To participate in the program and receive a grant, eligible organizations will be required to enter into an agreement with TriMet that includes administrative duties such as verification of fare recipient low-income status; intake, processing and fulfillment of orders to qualifying recipients; and record keeping and management of fare inventory, including reporting of fare disbursements as described in the agreement.

Your organization’s Fare Relief Program application will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Your organization must have nonprofit status or partner with a fiscal agent that has nonprofit status
• You must serve low-income populations as described in the grant description
• An eligibility and documentation process must be in place to ensure that recipients meet the program criteria, and you must agree to review eligibility of continuing recipients annually
• Demonstrate that funds received through the program will not supplant existing resources used for the purchase of fares, but instead will be used to increase the amount of assistance you provide
• You must demonstrate the ability to track fare usage and compliance with monthly reports to TriMet

✔️ Other Grant Requirements

Grant recipients are required to implement a process that informs and assists their clients with enrollment in the TriMet income-based Honored Citizen program. This process must include the following components at a minimum:

1. Introduction and overview of the TriMet program to all individuals receiving grant fare.
   • Income qualifications, age requirement, residency requirement and ID requirement
   • Discounted fare costs
   • Online enrollment option
   • Length of eligibility period
2. Provide TriMet LIF program materials to interested clients (materials provided by TriMet)
3. Existing LIF enrollment partners must offer enrollment into the TriMet income-based Honored Citizen program when applicable.

✔️ Award amount

Grants are awarded by Ride Connection. Award amount will vary, but generally will not exceed $35,000.

✔️ Application and selection process

After your application is reviewed, TriMet will notify you of the status of the request. For more information, please email us at farerelief@trimet.org.