United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-97-035
Environmental Protection December 1997
Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
v/EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
The Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality Improvement Program
(CMAQ)
The CMAQ program provides federal transportation funds to support
state and local development and implementation of projects that reduce
transportation-related air pollution. As states and local governments
have worked to reduce air pollution and attain the air quality standards,
they have generally relied on technological control measures. Industrial
processes with significantly lower emission levels and cleaner exhaust
from automobiles and fuels have resulted in cleaner air in many of our
cities. Yet the increase in the number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in
recent years counterbalances these gains and may prevent other cities
from achieving healthy air. Strategies to reduce VMT and lessen
congestion in order to reduce pollution from travel are increasingly
viewed as integral parts of sustainable air quality plans.
What Is the CMAQ Program?
The CMAQ program was established by the Intermodal Surface Trans-
portation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) to fund projects that initiate or
expand transportation-related infrastructure and services that have air
quality benefits. The Department of Transportation operates the program
in consultation with EPA. The CMAQ program's flexible guidelines cut
across traditional transportation program boundaries to fund projects
dealing with highways, transit, and non-traditional projects such as
public outreach, clean fuel vehicles, and inspection and maintenance
(I/M) emissions testing programs.
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the
ISTEA provides to the CMAQ program about $1 billion per year for six
years. The money is divided among the states based upon a legislated
formula. Each state is guaranteed 0.5 percent, and the rest is given to
states with areas where ozone and carbon monoxide levels do not meet
air quality standards ("nonattainment areas"). The formula takes into
account the severity of the air pollution, as well as the population of the
nonattainment areas within each state.
Two funding requirements apply to the CMAQ program. First, the
money must be spent on projects that reduce ozone or carbon monoxide
from transportation sources. Second, the money must be used in a
nonattainment area, if one exists within the state. The state is responsible
for distribution among multiple nonattainment areas. If the state does not
have an ozone or carbon monoxide nonattainment area, the funds may be
used anywhere in the state for any activity eligible under the CMAQ or
another transportation program, the Surface Transportation Program.
However, in these cases, funding projects that address the reduction of
transportation-related particulate matter is encouraged.
of are for
Funds?
Because of the program's high degree of flexibility, CMAQ projects can
vary greatly from area to area. However, there are some common charac-
teristics, due to the program's focus on air quality. Generally, CMAQ
projects:
1) are developed through a coordinated planning process;
2) target the emissions for which the area is in nonattainment, and;
3) produce emission reductions in the time frames established by the
Clean Air Act for that area.
CMAQ projects can usually be classified in one of the following catego-
ries:
* Travel Demand Management Strategies
• Transit Improvements
• Shared Ride Services
• Traffic Flow Improvements
«Pedestrian and Bicycle Programs
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These broad categories provide wide ranging flexibility and can support
specific projects that vary greatly in design, scope, and implementation.
The categories are not intended to be exclusive; other activities, such as
I/TV! programs, conversion of public fleets to clean alternative fuels, and
public education and outreach programs, may also be eligible.
For
For more information about this program, please contact Mark Simons at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone: (734)214-4420
Fax: (734)214-4052
E-mail: simons.mark@epa.gov
This fact sheet and additional documents on transportation and air
quality are available electronically on EPA's Internetworld Wide Web
(WWW) site at:
http ://www. epa.gov/oms/traq
Further information may also be available from:
• Your local Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Your State Department of Transportation
• The U.S. Department of Transportation:
Federal Highway Administration, Division Offices
Federal Transit Administration, Regional Offices
• U.S. EPA Regional Offices
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