Transit Pass Program Application - Transit Empowerment Fund

Application Process

TEF awards deeply discounted transit fares to nonprofits serving clients in the CapMetro service territory that are transit-dependent and at 150% of the federal poverty level. The goal of the program is to promote self-sufficiency by providing transportation for employment, healthcare, education, and social services.

2026 Timeline

January 20th: Application released
January 27th: Optional information session on Zoom
February 16th: Applications due at 5pm Central Time
March 9th: Decisions announced
March/April: Awards distributed

2026 Transit Fares Program Application

Applicant Information

Name of Organization(Required)

Contact Name(Required)

First Last

Contact Phone Number(Required)

Contact Email Address(Required)

Organization Website(Required)

Estimated number of individuals that will receive these fares.(Required)

Estimated number of staff members or volunteers that will distribute these fares.(Required)

Documentation

Most recent audit(Required)

If an audit has not been completed, please upload a financial statement.

Max. file size: 512 MB.

501(c)(3) certificate(Required)

This requirement is waived for government agencies.

Max. file size: 512 MB.

Statement of non-discrimination(Required)

All applicants must sign a statement that they do not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual preference, religion or race.

Max. file size: 512 MB.

Target Population

All recipients must be at or below 150% of federal poverty level and transit dependent, but the TEF Board also has a special interest in targeting the populations listed below. Please list the estimated percentage of fares that will go to each target population:

Seniors over the age of 65 (%)(Required)

People with a qualifying disability (%)(Required)

Medicare card holders (%)(Required)

Medicaid recipients (%)(Required)

Refugees (%)(Required)

Veterans(%)(Required)

Individuals who are experiencing homelessness (%)(Required)

Other (%) - Explain(Required)

The TEF Board encourages organizations who serve unhoused clients to pursue CapMetro’s Transit Program for the Unhoused. Learn more here: https://www.capmetro.org/hmis-program

Does your organization utilize the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)?(Required)

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

The new QR Code Ticket fare medium can be emailed directly to recipient organizations to print themselves. Does your organization have the ability to print tickets for your clients?(Required)

Yes, we have printer access and can print QR code tickets for our clients

No, we need our tickets printed for us by TEF

N/A

Application Narrative

Please address each question below in a separate section:

Need and Purpose of Fares:(Required)

Describe why your organization participates in the TEF program, how transit access is relevant to your work and your clients' needs.

Self Sufficiency:(Required)

Describe how these fares will be used to assist individuals in remaining or becoming more self-sufficient.

Geographic Area:(Required)

Describe your service area and the geographic area targeted by your services, if any.

Client eligibility:(Required)

Describe which clients are eligible to receive a TEF fare and the process for determining eligibility.

Distribution & Safety:(Required)

Outline the process for distributing fares and describe the policies and procedures that will be in place to ensure that the tickets and cards are secure.

No-Cost Narrative

If you are requesting no-cost fares, you must complete the following section. IF NO EXPLANATION IS PROVIDED, NO AWARD WILL BE CONSIDERED.

Need and Purpose of No Cost Fares:

Please describe any significant changes in the community needs for the population that you serve.

Why purchasing deeply discounted fares presents an undue burden on your organization:

Please describe any significant change in your organization’s financial situation.

Fares Request Form

LOCAL FARES

Local Fares can be used on CapMetro MetroBus, UT Shuttle, MetroRapid and High-Frequency Routes. A full list of fares can be found at: https://www.capmetro.org/fares-passes/

Local Day Ticket - Deeply Discounted ($0.50)(Required)

Local Day Ticket - No Cost ($0)(Required)

Local Day QR Code Ticket

Cost to Agency per item ($0.50)

QR Code Tickets *single use only*

Deeply Discounted Local Day Tickets Requested

No-Cost Local Day Tickets Requested

Number of Local Day Tickets Requested

Total Cost for Local Day Tickets

Local 31-Day Card - Deeply Discounted ($8.25)(Required)

Local 31-Day Card - No Cost ($0)(Required)

Local 31-Day Reloadable Fare Card

Cost to Agency per item ($11.25)

Reloadable Fare Card *card can be reloaded with fare each month using digital codes*

Deeply Discounted 31-Day Cards Requested

No-Cost 31-Day Cards Requested

Number of Local 31-Day Cards Requested

Total Cost for 31-Day Cards

Local Day Digital Code - Deeply Discounted ($0.50)(Required)

Local Day Digital Code - No Cost ($0)(Required)

Local Day Digital Code

Cost to Agency per item ($0.50) - Digital

*must be used with UMO app or redeemed on a reloadable fare card*

Deeply Discounted Local Day Digital Codes Requested

No-Cost Local Day Digital Codes Requested

Number of Local Day Digital Codes Requested

Total Cost for Local Day Digital Codes

Local 31-Day Digital Code - Deeply Discounted ($8.25)(Required)

Local 31-Day Digital Code - No Cost ($0)(Required)

Local 31-Day Digital Code

Cost to Agency per item ($8.25) - Digital

Digital Code *must be used with UMO app or redeemed on a reloadable fare card*

Deeply Discounted Local 31-Day Digital Codes Requested

No-Cost Local 31-Day Digital Codes Requested

Number of Local 31-Day Digital Codes Requested

Total Cost for 31-Day Digital Codes

COMMUTER FARES

Commuter Fares can be used on All Local services, plus CapMetro MetroExpress Routes and MetroRail trains

Commuter Day QR Code Ticket - Deeply Discounted ($1.40)(Required)

Commuter Day QR Code Ticket - No Cost ($0)(Required)

Commuter QR Code Tickets - 1 Day ($1.40) *single use only*

Deeply Discounted Commuter Day Tickets Requested

No-Cost Commuter Day Tickets Requested

Number of Commuter Day Tickets Requested

Total Cost for Commuter Day Tickets

Commuter 31-Day Reloadable Fare Card - Deeply Discounted ($19.25)(Required)

Commuter 31-Day Reloadable Fare Card - No Cost ($0)(Required)

Commuter Reloadable Fare Card - 31 Day ($22.25) *card can be reloaded with fare each month using digital codes*

Deeply Discounted No Cost Commuter 31-Day Cards Requested

No Cost Commuter 31-Day Cards Requested

Number of Commuter Reloadable 31-Day Cards Requested

Total Cost for Commuter Reloadable 31-Day Cards

Commuter Day Digital Code - Deeply Discounted ($1.40)(Required)

Commuter Day Digital Code - No Cost ($0)(Required)

Commuter Digital Codes - 1 Day ($1.40) *must be used with UMO app or redeemed on a reloadable fare card*

Deeply Discounted Commuter Day Digital Codes Requested

No Cost Commuter Day Digital Codes Requested

Number of Commuter 1-Day Digital Codes Requested

Total Cost for Commuter 1-Day Digital Codes

Commuter 31-Day Digital Code - Deeply Discounted ($19.25)(Required)

Commuter 31-Day Digital Code - No Cost ($0)(Required)

Commuter Digital Codes - 31 Day Digital ($19.25) *must be used with UMO app or redeemed on a reloadable fare card*

Deeply Discounted Commuter 31-Day Digital Codes Requested

No Cost Commuter 31-Day Digital Codes Requested

Number of Commuter 31-Day Digital Codes Requested

Total Cost for Commuter 31-Day Digital Codes

METROACCESS SERVICE

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/.

MetroAccess 10-Ticket Booklet - Deeply Discounted ($17.50)(Required)

MetroAccess 10-Ticket Booklet - No-Cost ($0)(Required)

MetroAccess 10-Ticket Booklet ($17.50) recipients must be certified as eligible for MetroAccess service

Deeply Discounted MetroAccess Booklets Requested

No-Cost MetroAccess Booklets Requested

Number of MetroAccess Booklets Requested

Total Cost for MetroAccess Booklets

Grand Total