Edit: Grants are not a sustainable source of funds.  Grants can be used to jump-start a program, but should not be thought of as a long-term source.  A more long-term approach would include a combination of student fees and parking permits.  Keep in mind that the parking permits will also not be a long-term source of funds because as drivers decrease so will the revenue from those permits.

Does your school have a public transportation program?  How is it funded?  What are some interesting/creative financial models that can be used to fund a public transportation program?

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At Clackamas Community College (just outside Portland, OR), we estimate that our largest contribution to GHGs is from commuting.  Once the baseline inventory is complete we will know for sure, but in the meantime we are working on ways to lower our emissions from commuting and one of the goals is to better connect our school with the Portland rail line.  The closest rail station is 9 miles from campus.

We are currently looking at a host of options, but the most direct would be to shuttle students/staff/faculty to and from the rail line.   This shuttle would cost money, and due to the economy we are unable to draw on the college's general fund.

Before we consider raising student fees to pay for this project, we would be interested in hearing about methods that other schools are using to finance similar projects.  Has anyone had success finding grants for public transportation programs?  I have come across a few grants that seem to be designed for this kind of need, and I would be interested in hearing about some success stories.

Thanks,

Tim