CASTA is pleased to administer the Ozone Season Transit Grant (OSTG) in Colorado on behalf of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO). The program provides grants to eligible transit agencies in order to offer free transit services for a minimum of thirty days during ozone season.
CASTA and CEO have developed the OZONE SEASON TRANSIT GRANT PROGRAM policy to administer grant funding to eligible agencies. You can read the policy here.
- Applicant Eligibility: Transit agencies that operate in the state of Colorado that are eligible to receive money under a grant authorized by 49 u.s.c. sec. 5307 or 49 u.s.c. sec. 5311 are eligible to apply for grant funding.
- Expense Eligibility:
- An eligible transit agency that receives a grant through the transit association may use the money to cover the costs associated with providing new or expanded free transit services within its service area during ozone season, including offering additional FREE SERVICES OR free routes or INCREASING THE FREQUENCY OF service on routes for which the eligible transit agency currently offers free service.
- Grant money may be used to replace farebox revenue and pay for other expenses necessary to implement the program. Such expenses may include, for example:
- Ridership Increase: expenses associated with an increase in ridership as a result of the program.
- Staffing: additional staffing costs to cover overtime costs, provide additional cleaning, provide additional security, and for additional drivers.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Additional costs to operate and maintain vehicles, such as fuel, maintenance, and cleaning costs.
- Marketing: marketing and public information campaigns to ensure the public is aware of the free transit opportunities in their area.
- Reporting: Costs to support program reporting requirements.
- an eligible transit agency shall not use grant money to offset or replace funding for free transit services that the eligible transit agency offered as of January 1 of the funding year.
- Program funds are intended for operational expenses. Capital expenditures such as purchasing a bus or bus stop, office furniture, and other supplies not specific to implementing the program will not be reimbursed.
Applications for the Ozone Season Transit Grant Program will open January 31, 2025. Applicants must apply by February 28, 2025. Find instructions on how to submit an application in the RFA documents below.
The documents and links below provide guidance for how transit agencies may apply to receive a grant to participate in the program:
- Request for Application
- Sample Grant Agreement
- Organization W-9 Form (Blank)
- Application Form
- Application Budget Template
- Past Ridership Template
CASTA will be providing an Ozone Season Transit Grant Program Webinar that is mandatory to attend for transit agencies seeking a grant through the programs. Information to register is below:
2025 OSTG Application Webinar
Date: 2/11/2025
Time: 11:00 PM MST
Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/khvQzJ48T3K20Odw_YKQSA
| Activity | Action Date |
| Release of RFA | January 31, 2025 |
| Deadline to submit Application | February 28, 2025 |
| Anticipated Notice of Award Decisions | March 28, 2025 |
Receiving Grant Funds
The Ozone Season Transit Grant Program is a reimbursement grant. Subgrantees will complete only one Subgrantee Reimbursement Form upon completion of their program period.
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- Subgrantees participating during the June-August ozone season program will complete the Subgrantee Reimbursement form by October 4th, 2024.
- If reimbursements are not received by this date CASTA cannot guarantee that subgrantees will be reimbursed.
Please use the Subgrantee Reimbursement Uniform Guidance to submit reimbursements.
Contacts
If you have any questions regarding this program please contact us.
Program Coordinator: Autumn Lawrence | [email protected] | 303.839.5197
Program Director: Joseph Parks | [email protected] | 303.839.4197