RTD announces Transit Assistance Grant awards for 170 area organizations
For the third consecutive year, RTD is providing no-cost 10-ride ticket books to select organizations that support individuals with emergent and immediate transit needs
DENVER (Feb. 17, 2026) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) will provide $1 million worth of grant funding to 170 qualifying nonprofit and community social service organizations or governmental entities as part of the agency’s Transit Assistance Grant (TAG) Program.
Following the success of the TAG Program in 2024 and 2025, under which 181 and 149 area organizations respectively received grants to support clients with immediate needs, RTD is continuing the program for a third year.
“The Transit Assistance Grant program directly supports RTD’s mission of making lives better through connections by providing critical assistance to meet urgent needs within the communities served by the agency,” said Debra A. Johnson, RTD General Manager and CEO. “Public transit is the great societal equalizer. RTD continues to engage in partnerships with organizations that serve those with immediate transit needs and that work directly impacts the overall health of the region.”
Selected awardees include resource centers, re-entry programs, city and county governmental agencies, educational institutions, training programs, and nonprofit organizations serving low-income, unhoused, and disabled customers; newcomers; seniors; communities of color; as well as LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented communities. The program was specifically designed to support individuals who need a reliable transportation option to support emergent or immediate need.
Grant awards range from $400 to $45,000 worth of fare media per organization, and it is distributed in the form of 10-ride ticket books. TAG recipients must distribute the tickets to their clients or constituents at no cost.
“We are deeply grateful for the support from the TAG Program and for the transit passes provided through this grant,” said Bobby Peterson, Communication and Resource Director at Community Table. “For many of the people we serve, reliable transportation can be the difference between staying stuck and moving forward. These passes help our clients get to job interviews, attend our GED program, pick up food from Community Table for their families, and make it home safely each day. By removing transportation as a barrier, RTD is helping restore stability, dignity, and hope. We sincerely appreciate the generosity and care behind this program. It is making a real and lasting difference in people’s lives.”
“Archway Communities has been able to provide life-changing support to residents across our affordable housing communities,” said Maggie Howard, Associate Director of Supportive Services at Archway Communities — a 2025 and 2026 TAG award recipient. “Particularly for our older adult and veteran residents, RTD bus passes are a vital link to health care appointments, grocery stores, and other essential services. TAG funding plays a critical role in fostering independence and supporting long-term housing stability for our resident community,” she added.
In 2025, RTD issued 287,068 three-hour passes and ultimately served over 76,300 individuals through TAG funding. The program has seen a growing demand and served approximately 35% more individuals in 2025 than in 2024.
The agency received 180 applications for 2026 TAG funding and awarded approximately 94% of applicants. The list of 170 awardees is available on RTD’s TAG Program webpage. TAG is meant to fill the temporary gap for customers who have urgent transportation-related requirements, and to provide organizations that serve these customers with time to educate and enroll clients in LiVE, RTD’s income-based fare discount program for eligible customers.
The TAG Program was created and launched in response to RTD’s 2023 Systemwide Fare Study and Equity Analysis. A selection panel of RTD staff reviewed submitted applications and determined grant recipients based on clear and transparent evaluation criteria. Key criteria included an organization being a nonprofit, social service or governmental agency that serves clients who need urgent or immediate access to essential services. Recipients are expected to provide quarterly reports to RTD documenting how many clients were assisted and to advise them in enrolling in LiVE. More information may be found online.