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Innovative Mobility Program

August funding update 

The Innovative Mobility Program will launch its final call for projects in September 2026. Federal funding will be available under a competitive grant opportunity designed to support investment in capital and equipment purchases for shared mobility services, such as bicycles, microtransit vans, etc. These projects will require 10.27% local match. We anticipate awarding approximately $5 million.   

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About the Innovative Mobility Program

The Innovative Mobility Program is a one-time initiative that aims to improve historically underserved communities' access to public and active transportation. Program goals also include reducing the number of trips Oregonians make by car and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The IMP is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress in November 2021, as well as State of Oregon dollars. Program funding cannot be used for highways, maintenance or operations.

Program Objectives

The Innovative Mobility Program is designed to increase social equity and mobility while reducing the effects of climate change. The core objectives of the program are to:  

  1. Improve historically underserved communities’ access to public and active transportation.  
  2. Reduce the number of drive-alone trips. 
  3. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
The term "historically underserved communities" refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, whose access to resources and opportunities have been historically limited due to systemic barriers. This includes, but is not limited to, communities who have been historically underserved or under-resourced due to age, disability status, language, income, race/ethnicity, immigration status, or gender.


What We Fund

Learn more about what the Innovative Mobility Program can fund and who is eligible to apply below. For detailed project eligibility, review the prospective grant opportunity. 

​The Innovative Mobility Program can fund a variety of activities and projects that support increased access to active and public transportation, including shared mobility services. All projects must meet the objectives of the program. The following list provides a broad overview of the types of projects and activities that the program can support.   

  • Studies, assessments, and implementation strategies, including:
    • Transportation equity needs assessments
    • Shared mobility feasibility studies
    • First and last mile studies
    • Pilot and/or program development
  • New shared mobility services including:
    • Micromobility (e.g., bike, e-bike, e-scooter share, e-bike lending libraries)
    • Carshare
    • Carpool and vanpool
    • Transit and microtransit
  • Minor infrastructure projects supportive of active and public transportation, including:
    • Mobility hubs
    • Transit stop improvements
    • Bicycle racks
    • Shared package lockers
    • Temporary bicycle and pedestrian installations
  • Outreach and education efforts and safety gear to support transportation demand management, including: 
    • Travel trainings 
    • Bicycle and pedestrian safety gear
    • Translation of materials
  • Special events

​Eligibility will depend on the type of grant, but the following entities are broadly eligible for Innovative Mobility Program funding: 
  • Local, regional, Tribal, and state government agencies. (excluding the Oregon Department of Transportation). 
  • Transportation providers (nonprofit or public entity).
  • Public schools, school districts, colleges, and universities (nonprofit or public entity). 
  • Nonprofits with 501(c) status. 
  • Organizations with fiscal sponsorship from a nonprofit with 501(c) status or public agency.

  • ​​FTA Shared Mobility Definitions: This webpage includes a list of definitions for shared mobility terms, including bikesharing, carsharing, micromobility, and more, as used by the Federal Transit Association (FTA). 
  • Shared-Use Mobility Center Definitions: This resource from the Shared-Use Mobility Center includes a list of shared mobility related definitions, including terms like "first and last mile".
  • Transportation Demand Management: This Association for Commuter Transportation webpage provides an overview of what "transportation demand management" (or TDM) means and a list of typical TDM strategies. In Oregon, many of these strategies will more often​ be called "​transportation options​".
  • Transportation Equity Needs Assessment Toolkit: This resource was developed by researchers at the University of South Florida with funding from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT). It includes a definition of a “transportation equity needs assessment” along with a series of tools to use. 
  • Roadmap to Equitable Community Transportation: This resource from The Greenlining Institute provides an overview of best practices for conducting a mobility needs assessment. (This may also be referred to as a “transportation needs assessment” or a "community transportation needs assessment.”) 
  • Mobility Hubs Overview: This webpage from Chicago’s Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) provides a brief description of mobility hubs.
  • E-Bike Lending Libraries: ​Trends and Practices in the U.S.: This research from Portland State University was supported by ODOT and summarizes findings from a scan of 54 e-bike lending libraries from around the U.S. Additional details about e-bike lending library programs can be found at the accompanying E-Bike Lending Library Programs Tracker.​

Explore Grants

Explore the sections below to learn about Innovative Mobility Grants.

Awards 

Microgrant Resources 




Awards​

We received 18 proposals for Study and Assessment Grants in 2024.  ​16 projects will receive Study and Assessment Grant funding.
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Grant Resources

Awards

We received 13 proposals for Pilot Grants in 2024. Six projects will receive Pilot Grant funding.

Grant Resources

​About this Opportunity 

This is a competitive grant to support investment in capital and equipment purchases for shared mobility services, such as bicycles, microtransit vans, etc. These projects will be funded with federal dollars and will require 10.27% match. We anticipate awarding approximately $4.1 million in 2027.

Learn About IMP Investments

In addition to the grant opportunities, the Innovative Mobility Program is also investing funds in other program areas. Read more about each one below.

​We are using a portion of the IMP funds to support the development of a statewide vanpool program that will provide subsidies for new urban and rural vanpools. We expect the program to begin in 2026. For more information, visit the Transportation Options Program​ page. 

​We are investing a portion of the IMP funds in our Transportation Options program to increase the capacity of our community partners and support program expansion with a key focus on historically underserved communities.

​A portion of the funds are being used to support technical assistance for current and prospective grantees.

​A limited amount of funding has been used to support research, including the following studies:

  • ​E-Bike Lending Libraries: ​Trends and Practices in the U.S.: This research from Portland State University was supported by ODOT and summarizes findings from a scan of 54 e-bike lending libraries from around the U.S. Additional details about e-bike lending library programs can be found at the accompanying E-Bike Lending Library Programs Tracker.
  • Shared Micromobility Coordination Study: Indentifying potential scenarios for a regional shared micromobility program and evaluate the viability of the potential scenarios. The study was completed in 2025.​












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