Additional Resources
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CMAQ
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program
What is CMAQ?
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) is a flexible funding source for state and local governments to fund transportation projects and programs to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). CMAQ was created in 1991 and reauthorized in the SAFETEA-LU legislation, the most recent surface transportation bill. CMAQ funds generally represent only 2-3% of a region’s total transportation budget and the money supports transportation projects that reduce mobile source emissions in areas designated by U.S. EPA as a non-attainment or “maintenance” area according to the national ambient air quality standards.
How much funding is available for CMAQ projects?
Approximately $8.6 billion is available for FY 2005 – 2009. Each fiscal year’s funds are available for obligation by the states for a four-year period. Funds that are not obligated after 4 years are considered lapsed and return to the federal government.
How are CMAQ funds distributed?
Funds are apportioned to state transportation agencies based on a formula that accounts for population and the level of ozone and carbon monoxide air quality problems in a region. Areas designated as being in non-attainment for particulate matter are eligible to receive CMAQ funds, however the CMAQ funding formula does not include particulates as a factor.
What is an MPO and what role do they play in the distribution of CMAQ funds?
Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are responsible for planning, programming and coordinating federal highway and transit investments in urbanized areas of at least 50,000 persons.MPOs have varying levels of involvement in CMAQ program administration and project selection.
In general, state DOTs usually determine how much CMAQ funding is available while MPOs prioritize and select projects for funding and ensure they are included in a conforming transportation plan and transportation improvement program (TIP). Final project determinations lie with federal transportation and transit administrations with EPA playing a consultative role.
Who is eligible to receive CMAQ funds?
CMAQ projects can be proposed by cities, counties, transit and transportation authorities, state DOTs and private and nonprofit entities in cooperation with a lead public agency.
What conditions/restrictions are there on the use of CMAQ funds?
CMAQ funds must be used for projects in non-attainment or maintenance areas. CMAQ funds require a 20% state or local match (although this percentage has been reduced in select states and for select projects). CMAQ funds may not be distributed directly to a private or non-profit entity, thereby requiring a public sector partner for each project.
What types of projects are funded through the CMAQ program?
Historically transit and traffic flow improvement projects have accounted for approximately two-thirds to three-quarters of CMAQ funds. Other eligible project categories include new transit buses, shared ride (e.g. vanpool and carpool), demand management (e.g. employer trip reduction programs), and bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Have CMAQ funds been used for diesel retrofit?
Since distribution of CMAQ funds vary from state to state, and the federal database tracking previous use of CMAQ funds is not up to date, it is impossible to know how many diesel retrofit projects have been funded. Historically, the number of diesel retrofit projects have been quite limited, however this number is expected to increase due to changes in the SAFETEA-LU reauthorization in 2005 and the availability of cleaner diesel fuel nationwide; a key component of retrofit projects.
What impact does the new transportation law (SAFETEA-LU) have on diesel retrofit projects?
SAFETEA-LU included two new provisions that could increase the number of retrofit projects funded by the CMAQ program. The first of these requires states and MPOs to give priority in distributing CMAQ funds to “diesel retrofits, particularly where necessary to facilitate contract compliance.” The second expands the eligibility of projects to include non-road vehicles and engines that are used in highway construction projects.
Despite these changes, Congress protected the authority of state and local planning organizations to make ultimate funding decisions through the addition of a savings clause which stipulates that existing authorities and agency roles are not to be disturbed in making final project selections.
What is transportation conformity and how does it relate to the CMAQ program?
Transportation conformity is a requirement of the Clean Air Act which states that transportation plans, programs and projects must “conform” to a state’s clean air plans. If conformity cannot be established, the MPO and the state DOT must change the timing or mix of transportation projects in its plan or transportation improvement program, delaying or eliminating needed transportation improvements. An alternative to this is to identify emissions-reducing projects as offsets that may be funded under the CMAQ program. In this way, CMAQ funding has been crucial to avoiding costly disruptions in the federal funding process.
How can you receive CMAQ funds?
All CMAQ projects must be included in the region’s latest conforming plan and transportation improvement program by a sponsoring MPO. As a result, interested recipients should contact local planners, legislators and MPOs to inform them of potential retrofit projects and learn more about the local process for getting projects included on the TIP. SAFETEA-LU places added emphasis on the cost-effectiveness criteria in the selection of projects for CMAQ funding. As a result, applications that include quantitative emissions reduction estimates, cost-effectiveness figures and provide more than 20% of the required matching funds are likely to be more attractive.
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