Ohio CMAQ Program Project Eligibility Review Process

 
Overview

The US DOT Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program was first established by the 1991 ISTEA legislation (6 year Federal Transportation Program Authorizing Legislation) and has been reauthorized in subsequent Federal Transportation Program Authorizing legislation.  The primary purpose of the CMAQ program is to provide funding for transportation projects and programs that will reduce transportation related emissions.  CMAQ program expenditures are geographically restricted to US EPA designated non attainment and maintenance air quality areas.  The CMAQ Program provides air quality areas with a source of federal funds specifically directed toward financing projects and programs that will reduce transportation related emissions and assist these areas in meeting and maintaining the national air quality standards.  In general, projects that improve traffic flow through congested locations or reduce automobile and truck based trip making provide transportation related emission reductions.  See http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/cmaqpgs/index.htm for a comprehensive listing of CMAQ Program documentation.

 CMAQ Program Eligibility

A unique component of the CMAQ program is that a formal, project specific, US DOT CMAQ program eligibility determination action is required prior to funding being authorized for project development or implementation expenditures.  Federal Guidelines, most recently issued on October 6, 2006 http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/cmaq06gd.pdf describe the CMAQ Program eligibility review requirements and eligible project types.

 Ohio CMAQ Program eligibility request packages include the following items:

• Narrative description of the project
• Project location
• Project cost
• Project sponsor
• Narrative discussion of the project’s emission reduction potential
• Quantitative project emission reduction analysis

 The links below are sample CMAQ eligibility request packages:   

Ohio CMAQ Program Administration

Ohio receives annual Federal Highway Administration CMAQ Program apportionments of +/- $50,000,000 per year. ODOT reserves $8,000,000 of the annual apportionments for state selected and sponsored projects. The remaining funds are formally suballocated to Ohio’s CMAQ eligible MPOs. Working with local government project sponsors, the MPOs identify, prioritize, and advance fiscally balanced annual programs of CMAQ financed projects. All CMAQ projects and associated funding must be identified in the respective MPO’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Local Government project sponsors seeking CMAQ project funding, are strongly encouraged to contact their regional MPO.

Contact Information

Questions concerning the CMAQ Program may be addressed to Dave Moore, at (614) 466-0754, in the ODOT Office of Systems Planning and Program Management. Email at Dave.Moore1@dot.state.oh.us