CASTA is pleased to administer the Youth Fare-Free Transit Grant in Colorado on behalf of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) through the Zero Fare Transit Grants Program. The program provides grants to eligible transit agencies in order to offer free transit services to youth riders in a calendar year beginning on October 1, 2024 and ending September 30, 2025. Youth Fare-Free Transit Grant  is designed to support the state’s transit agencies to rebuild transit ridership following the COVID-19 pandemic. The program’s goals include reducing ozone formation, increasing youth ridership on transit, and reducing vehicle miles traveled in the state. 

This bill creates the Zero Transit Grant Program in the Colorado Energy Office (CEO). The program provides grants to Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA) and the Regional Transportation District (RTD). CASTA is using the grant to provide grants to eligible transit agencies to offer year-round fare free transit services to youth riders. 

Applications for the Youth Fare-Free Transit Grant are now open. Applicants must apply by September 20, 2024. 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:

CASTA will be providing an Youth Fare-Free Transit Grant Application Webinar that is mandatory to attend for transit agencies seeking a grant through the programs. Information to register is below:

Youth Fare-Free Transit Grant Application Webinar

Date: September 10, 2024

Time: 12:00 PM MST

Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrd-ytrzMtGdYAEvk3hxjNSBa__QNC3fy7

If you are interested in applying for a Youth Fare-Free Transit Grant but cannot make the webinar, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible to express interest and we will make sure to get you the recording and get your agency included in the marketing materials we are developing.

Subgrantee Portal