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).

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.

Projects programmed through the year 2010 include: building numerous Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling facilities, purchasing CNG buses and trucks, building roundabouts and stabilizing road shoulders. For more information on the CMAQ program, contact Elizabeth Wright, 559-624-7274.