|
|
 |
|
CMAQ - Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality
| Year |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| Authorization |
$26M |
$24M |
$24M |
$29M |
$27M |
$21M |
Program Purpose
The primary purpose of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) is to fund projects and programs in air quality nonattainment and maintenance areas for ozone, carbon monoxide (CO), and small particulate matter (PM-10) which reduce transportation related emissions.
Distribution of Funds
The Metropolitan Planning Organizations covering the states ozone and carbon monoxide non-attainment areas and maintenance areas (PSRC, RTC, and SRTC) and Yakima (YVCOG) and Thurston (TRPC) representing unclassified non-attainment areas and WSDOT have jointly developed a distribution formula for these funds which is summarized below.
This formula was established as the formula for distributing CMAQ funds until changed by agreement of the parties or appropriate authority.
Each state receives a minimum of ½ of 1 percent of CMAQ funds. This minimum will be distributed to the five MPO areas PSRC, RTC SRTC, YVCOG and TRPC. The distribution will be based on their share of the population.
Washington also receives additional CMAQ funds due to the following PSRC, RTC and SRTC areas being classified as maintenance areas for ozone or carbon monoxide. The distribution will be based on their share of the population.
Eligibility
All MPOs are to modify their prioritization criteria for their next selection process (after 8/06) to insure that priority is given to diesel retrofit projects and other cost-effective emission reduction activities and cost-effective congestion mitigation activities that provide air quality benefits.
Call for Projects
In addition, MPOs need to insure that:
- there is a prioritization process that is independent of other funding programs;
- they maintain a level playing field for applicants with various types of CMAQ eligible projects with air emissions reductions as the primary criteria for funding;
- they set a reasonable number of applications submitted by any one applicant, so that the projects funded provide the most benefit to the region.
|
