Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ)

The CMAQ program was created under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991, continued under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), and reauthorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). It is not certain whether the CMAQ program will be included in the next transportation authorization bill. The next bill is expected to be approved in 2011 at the earliest. It is important for project applicants and project managers to keep in mind that CMAQ funds may shrink or disappear if the program is modified or deleted at the federal level. Certain projects may even become ineligible.

The purpose of the CMAQ program is to fund transportation projects or programs that will contribute to meeting national ambient air quality standards by relieving congestion and improving air quality. Tulare County receives just over $4 million a year in CMAQ funds.

About every two years, TCAG will announce a call for projects for CMAQ funds. The last two calls for projects were released in October 2007 and September 2009. The September 2009 call for projects was released for CMAQ funding in fiscal years 2012/13 and 2013/14. Approximately $4.2 million was available for programming for each fiscal year. TCAG has approved CMAQ policy regarding how those funds will be allocated. Part of TCAG’s approved policy includes the Valleywide Policy to program a minimum of 20% of available CMAQ funds to highly cost-effective projects. TCAG has established three funding categories, and within each category, projects are ranked based on their cost-effectiveness (dollars per pound of pollutant reduced). Pollutants that are to be reduced include Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM).

TCAG CMAQ Policy (Includes Valley Cost-Effectiveness Policy)
Information on Valley Policy

Applications for the most recent call for projects were due on October 22, 2009. Agencies were required to submit standard cost-effectiveness calculations with each application, but TCAG staff reviewed all calculations for consistency and accuracy. Projects were then ranked and presented to the TCAG Board. The following project list was approved for CMAQ programming in years 2012/13 and 2013/14, contingent upon continued funding of the program in those years.

Call for Projects Memo
Approved Project List

TCAG, as a part of the San Joaquin Valley, has committed to allocating a minimum of 20% of CMAQ funds to projects that meet a cost-effectiveness threshold of $20/lb or better during the four year Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) cycle. This is reflected in the approved CMAQ policy posted above.

Projects Meeting Valley Requirement

For more information on the CMAQ program, contact Elizabeth Wright, 559-624-7274.