How to Apply

Photo provided by Capital Metro.

TEF supports the community through three ongoing programs: Transit Pass Program, Microgrants, and Demonstration Projects.

Transit Passes

TEF awards eligible 501c3 organizations, tax exempt veteran organizations, and governmental entities with discounted and no-cost transit passes through an annual application process. The purpose of passes is to empower individuals to access employment, education, healthcare, or social services.

Passes must be used for individuals who are at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, are transit dependent, and reside within the Capital Metro service area. Upon award, participating agencies are required to report on distribution of passes quarterly to TEF.

The 2024-25 Transit Pass Program application is open from November 11, 2024 – January 6, 2025. Click here if you would like to view the Request for Applications (RFA), and use the form below to submit your application.

2024-25 Transit Pass Program Application

Step 1 of 3

Overview
Name of Organization*
Contact Name*
First Last
Contact Phone*
Email*
Website*
Target Population
Estimated number of individuals that will receive these passes/tickets*
All recipients must be at or below 150% of poverty and transit dependent but the TEF Board has a special interest in targeting the populations listed below. Please list the percentage of passes that will go to each target population:*
Seniors over the age of 65 People with a qualifying disability Medicare card holders Medicaid recipients Refugees Individuals who are experiencing homelessness Veterans Other
Please only enter percentages in the above fields.
If other, please specify:
Does your organization utilize the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)?
If yes, what is your reasoning for applying for TEF's Transit Pass Program rather than CapMetro's HMIS Program?
If utilizing both programs, please specify how TEF passes will be used alongside HMIS program passes.
Documentation
Most recent audit*
Accepted file types: docx, doc, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.
A financial statement may be uploaded if a recent audit has not been conducted.
501(c)(3) certificate*
Accepted file types: docx, doc, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.
Required unless the applicant is a government agency.
Statement of non-discrimination*
Accepted file types: docx, doc, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.
All applicants must sign a statement on letterhead that they do not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual preference, religion or race.

Transit Pass Request Form
Please place the number of passes you are requesting in the boxes below. The cost to your agency will be automatically calculated in the column on the right. The cost to your agency will be due upon receipt of the passes. Organizations will have the option to request that their passes are received in one or two allocations. Recipients of Reduced Fare and MetroAccess passes/tickets must meet the Capital Metro eligibility criteria and must already be approved by Capital Metro to receive these passes.

Your organization may request deeply discounted passes, no-cost passes, or both. For no-cost pass requests to be considered, you must complete the no-cost passes project description section of this application.

Please note: All passes are expected to be distributed within 12 months of receipt.
LOCAL FARE PASSES Requested
Local Fare Passes can be used on Capital Metro local buses. Local Bus Service includes bus routes 1-99, 200-490 & UT Shuttles. Note that they are not accepted on MetroRail, MetroExpress, MetroRapid, and Flyer routes. A full list of fares can be found at: http://www.capmetro.org/fares/

Note for reduced fare passes, rider must have a Capital Metro Reduced Fare ID card, which costs $3 and determines that they have met the Reduced Fare criteria. Eligibility Criteria can be found here: http://www.capmetro.org/RFID/
Local Day Pass ($0.50) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $2.50
Local Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $2.50
Total Cost to Agency
Local 7-Day Pass ($2.25) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $11.25
Local 7-Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $11.25
Total Cost to Agency
Local 31-Day Pass ($8.25) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $41.25
Local 31-Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $41.25
Total Cost to Agency
Local Reduced Day Pass ($0.25) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $1.25
Note: recipients must meet eligibility criteria.
Local Reduced Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $1.25 Note: recipients must meet eligibility criteria.
Total Cost to Agency
Local Reduced 31-Day Pass ($4.12) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $20.60
Note: recipients must meet eligibility criteria.
Local Reduced 31-Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $20.60 Note: recipients must meet eligibility criteria.
Total Cost to Agency
Total Local Fare Passes
COMMUTER FARE PASSES Requested
Commuter Fare Passes can be used on Capital Metro local buses, MetroRapid, MetroRail, MetroExpress, and Flyer routes. Commuter Service includes MetroRail and MetroExpress Routes 900-990, plus all Local and Premium Service. A full list of fares can be found at: http://www.capmetro.org/fares/

Note for reduced fare passes, rider must have a Capital Metro Reduced Fare ID card, which costs $3 and determines that they have met the Reduced Fare criteria. Eligibility Criteria can be found here: http://www.capmetro.org/RFID/
Commuter Day Pass ($1.40) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $7.00
Commuter Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $7.00
Total Cost to Agency
Commuter 7-Day Pass ($5.50) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $27.50
Commuter 7-Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $27.50
Total Cost to Agency
Commuter 31-Day Pass ($19.25) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $96.25
Commuter 31-Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $96.25
Total Cost to Agency
Commuter Reduced Day Pass ($0.70) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $3.50
Note: recipients must meet eligibility criteria.
Commuter Reduced Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $3.50 Note: recipients must meet eligibility criteria.
Total Cost to Agency
Commuter Reduced 31-Day Pass ($9.62) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $48.10
Note: recipients must meet eligibility criteria.
Commuter Reduced 31-Day Pass ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $48.10 Note: recipients must meet eligibility criteria.
Total Cost to Agency
Total Commuter Fare Passes
METROACCESS SERVICE PASSES Requested
Recipients must be certified as eligible for MetroAccess service and have a current MetroAccess card. Eligibility criteria can be found here: http://www.capmetro.org/metroaccess/. A full list of fares can be found at: http://www.capmetro.org/fares/
MetroAccess 10-Ticket (Booklet ($3.50) - Deeply Discounted Passes
Actual value per item = $17.50
Note: recipients must be certified as eligible for MetroAccess service
MetroAccess 10-Ticket (Booklet ($0) - No-Cost Passes
Actual value per item = $17.50 Note: recipients must be certified as eligible for MetroAccess service
Total Cost to Agency
Total MetroAccess Fare Passes
Performance
Capital Metro will track utilization. If the organization has previously received passes from the TEF Board, the prior use of the passes and consistency in TEF quarterly reporting will be considered as part of the deliberation.
If your organization previously received passes from the TEF Board that have not been distributed, state the number of passes remaining and the anticipated timeline for distribution.
Review
Total Cost to Your Agency
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Non-Discrimination Disclaimer
I understand that by submitting this application I confirm that our organization does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
Type your full name to agree to complete the application*

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Demonstration Projects

The Transit Empowerment Fund (TEF) invites local non-profits and community organizations to submit letters of interest for planning or demonstration projects designed to address mobility and transportation gaps for low-income populations within the CapMetro Service area.

To apply, please submit a letter of interest (LOI) including a project description, timeline, and budget. Please follow the instructions outlined in this document. The TEF Board reviews Demonstration and Planning Projects on a quarterly basis.

The Board is interested in learning about projects that:

(1) address a demonstrated need in the community;

(2) leverage existing resources or partnerships efficiently;

(3) support or leverage environmentally efficient modes of transportation such as shared rides, public transit, or active modes; and

(4) could be sustained through follow-on funding after the demonstration period. The Board will consider both planning and demonstration projects.

Microgrants

Microgrants are intended to support a single event or project that meets the TEF mission of empowering people by increasing access to transit options. Microgrants may also be used to address a short-term need for transit passes in special circumstances. The maximum grant award is $1,000. To learn more about the Microgrant program and eligibility criteria, please click here.

To submit an application, please complete the form below. Applications will be reviewed by the TEF Board on a quarterly basis: in January, April, June, and October.

2023 Microgrant Application

Organization*
Organization Address*
Contact Person*
Contact Phone Number*
Contact Email*
Organization's Mission*
Will the microgrant be used to support an event or short-term project that assists individuals to access education, employment, healthcare, or social services?*
(Applications aiming to meet an ongoing need will not be approved. Please instead apply for the annual TEF Transit Pass Program.)
- Yes
- No
Will the microgrant be used to support a short-term need for transit passes that assist individuals to access education, employment, healthcare, or social services?*
(Eligibility for applying microgrant funds for passes would be organizations in existence less than 5 years and/or a budget under $250,000.)
- Yes
- No
Describe how this microgrant will support the mission of TEF and assist individuals to access education, employment, healthcare, or social services? (Max 2,000 characters with spaces)*
How many individuals will be impacted?*
Who will be targeted?*
If this is for an event, what is the date, time, location, and purpose of the event?
If this is for transit passes, please describe your plan for determining eligibility and plan for distribution?
If this funding is going to be used as match or leverage for another grant, please let us know here.
Please provide any additional information you'd like the TEF Board to consider.
Please attach a proposed budget in a protected Excel document for this microgrant (maximum of $1000).*
Accepted file types: xls, xlsx, pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.

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How to Apply

Transit Passes

2024-25 Transit Pass Program Application

Step 1 of 3

Overview

Target Population

Documentation

Project Description

No-Cost Passes Project Description

Transit Pass Request Form

LOCAL FARE PASSES Requested

COMMUTER FARE PASSES Requested

METROACCESS SERVICE PASSES Requested

Performance

Review

Demonstration Projects

Microgrants

2023 Microgrant Application