Funding Opportunities
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Program Purpose:
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, continues planning programs that provide funding and set procedural requirements for multimodal transportation planning in metropolitan areas and states that result in long-range plans and short-range programs of transportation investment priorities. The planning programs are jointly administered by FTA and the Federal Highway Administration.
Statutory References:
49 U.S.C. §§ 5303-5305, IIJA §§ 30002-30004
Eligible Recipients:
States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
Eligible Activities:
A wide range of planning activities are eligible under this program, including:
1) development of transportation plans and programs
2) planning, design, and evaluation of a public transportation project
3) technical studies related to public transportation
What’s Changed?
Adds consideration of state and local housing patterns in the metropolitan planning process.
Requires MPOs to ensure the consistency of data used in the planning process, including information used in forecasting travel demand, if more than one MPO is designated within an urbanized area.
Permits the use of social media and other web-based tools to encourage public participation in the planning process.
Requires MPOs to consider the equitable and proportional representation of the population of the metropolitan planning area when designating officials for the first time.
Permits a greater than 80 percent federal share for transportation planning in certain circumstances including in lower-density or lower-income portions of metropolitan or adjoining rural areas.
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Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Formula Program - 5339(a)
Provides funding to states and transit agencies through a statutory formula to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. In addition to the formula allocation, the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program (49 U.S.C. 5339) includes two competitive components: the Bus and Bus Facilities Competitive Program and the Low or No Emissions Bus Vehicle Program. Please see the program fact sheet for additional information.
FTA is seeking public input on a new draft guidance document, Grant Programs for Urbanized Areas: Program Guidance and Application Instructions. This new circular combines existing program guidance on the Bus and Bus Facilities Formula Program (the urban component), the State of Good Repair Program, and the Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program. FTA encourages stakeholders to comment on the circular in the Federal Register through September 11, 2023.
Eligible Recipients
Eligible Recipients include designated recipients that operate fixed route bus service or that allocate funding to fixed route bus operators; and State or local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service that are eligible to receive direct grants under 5307 and 5311.
Subrecipients: An eligible recipient that receives a grant under the formula or competitive programs may allocate amounts from the grant to subrecipients that are public agencies or private nonprofit organizations engaged in public transportation.
Eligible Activities
Capital projects to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses, vans, and related equipment, and to construct bus-related facilities, including technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities.
Statutory References
49 U.S.C. Section 5339 / FAST Act Section 3017
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Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program
FAST Act (extension) Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Fiscal year (FY) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Contract authority $2.494 B $2.536 B* $2.587 B* $2.639 B* $2.692 B* $2.746 B*
*Calculated (sum of estimated individual State CMAQ apportionments)
Note: Except as indicated, all references in this document are to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. 117-58 (Nov. 15, 2021).
Program Purpose
The BIL continues the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) to provide a flexible funding source to State and local governments for transportation projects and programs to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Funding is available to reduce congestion and improve air quality for areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, or particulate matter (nonattainment areas) and for former nonattainment areas that are now in compliance (maintenance areas).
Statutory Citations
§ 11115; 23 U.S.C. 149
Funding Features
Except as specified above and below, the BIL continues all funding features that applied to CMAQ under the FAST Act.
Type of Budget Authority
Contract authority from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund, subject to the overall Federal-aid obligation limitation.
Apportionment of Funds
As under the FAST Act, the BIL directs FHWA to apportion funding as a lump sum for each State then divide that total among apportioned programs.
Each State’s CMAQ apportionment is calculated based on a ratio specified in law. [23 U.S.C. 104(b)(4)] (See “Apportionment” fact sheet for a description of this calculation)
Set-asides
2% for State Planning and Research (SPR). [23 U.S.C. 505]
For a State that has a nonattainment or maintenance area for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the BIL requires that an amount equal to 25% of the amount of the State’s CMAQ apportionment attributable to the weighted population of such areas in the State must be used for projects targeting PM2.5 reductions in those PM2.5 nonattainment and maintenance areas, including for diesel replacements (in addition to retrofits), and the BIL requires States to prioritize benefits to disadvantaged communities or low-income populations living in or adjacent to such area, to the extent practicable. [§ 11115(5); 23 U.S.C. 149(k)(1)(A) and (B)] States with low population density are not subject to this set-aside under certain conditions. [23 U.S.C. 149(k)]
Transferability to and from Other Federal-aid Apportioned Programs
A State may transfer up to 50% of CMAQ funds made available each fiscal year to any other apportionment of the State, including the National Highway Performance Program, Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program, National Highway Freight Program, [NEW] Carbon Reduction Program, and [NEW] Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Formula Program. Conversely, subject to certain limitations, a State may transfer up to 50% of funds made available each fiscal year from each other apportionment of the State to CMAQ. [23 U.S.C. 126] (See other program-specific fact sheets for additional details.)
Federal Share
As a general rule, in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 120. (See the “Federal Share” fact sheet for additional detail.)
Eligible Activities
The BIL continues all prior CMAQ eligibilities, and adds four new eligibilities:
shared micromobility, including bikesharing and shared scooter systems;
[§ 11115(1); 23 U.S.C. 149(b)(7)]
the purchase of diesel replacements, or medium-duty or heavy-duty zero emission vehicles and related charging equipment; [§ 11115(1); 23 U.S.C. 149(b)(8)]
modernization or rehabilitation of a lock and dam, or a marine highway corridor, connector, or crossing if functionally connected to the Federal-aid highway system and likely to contribute to attainment or maintenance of national ambient air quality standards (capped at 10% of CMAQ apportionment); and [§ 11115(1) and (2); 23 U.S.C. 149(b)(10), (b)(11), and (c)(4)]
in alternative fuel projects, vehicle refueling infrastructure that would reduce emissions from nonroad vehicles and nonroad engines used in construction projects or port-related freight operations. [§ 11115(3); 23 U.S.C. 149(f)(4)(A)]
Program Features
Except as specified above and below, BIL continues all requirements that applied to CMAQ under the FAST Act.
Assistance to MPOs
The BIL permits, upon request of an MPO serving a transportation management area (TMA) with population of 1 M or more, the United States Department of Transportation to assist the MPO in tracking progress made in minority or low-income populations as part of a performance plan. [§ 11115(6); 23 U.S.C. 149(l)(3)]
Operating Assistance
The BIL allows CMAQ funds to be used for operating assistance (without time limitation) in association with a transit system located in certain areas. [§ 11115(7); 23 U.S.C. 149(m)(2)]
Additional Information and Assistance
For more information about this program, visit: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/air_quality/cmaq/.
FHWA can connect you with your local FHWA office and support you with technical assistance for planning, design, construction, preserving, and improving public roads and in the stewardship of Federal funds. For assistance, visit: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/technical_support.cfm
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/cmaq.cfm
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Fleet Conversion Grants
https://www.acogok.org/transportation-planning/air-quality/fleet-conversion-grants/
ACOG’s Public Fleet Conversion Grants Program allows eligible entities to access federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program funds on a competitive basis in order to implement clean fuel projects. CMAQ money supports transportation projects that reduce mobile source emissions and provides a flexible funding source to state and local governments for transportation projects and programs that help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its amendments.
CMAQ Improvement Program
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program provides a flexible funding source for state and local governments to fund transportation projects and programs to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its amendments. CMAQ money supports transportation projects that reduce mobile source emissions. Eligible activities include transit improvements, travel demand management strategies, traffic flow improvements, and public fleet conversions to cleaner fuels, among others.
General CMAQ Information
The procedures and guidelines set forth in this announcement apply to the award of CMAQ funds attributed to the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Oklahoma City Area Transportation Management Area, for the purpose of implementing a program to deploy alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles in public sector fleets and to be administered as a competitive grants process. The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments’ CLEAN AIR Grants for Public Sector Fleets allow member local governments and certain other public entities to access CMAQ funds for fleet conversions to clean fuel technologies to include alternative fuel vehicles, hybrid vehicles and alternative fuel vehicle refueling infrastructure.
Entities Eligible for CMAQ Funds
Project applications will be accepted from OCARTS local government member entities; ACOG member public transit fleets; public trusts and public authorities that provide essential services to ACOG member entities; public colleges and universities, and Oklahoma CareerTech System Technology Centers lying principally within ACOG boundaries; and public school districts whose boundaries are contained principally within the ACOG area. Private entities that contract services such as refuse hauling or school transportation to ACOG area-eligible entities also can be considered for funding through a Public-Private-Partnership agreement.
CMAQ Guidelines and Funding Ratios
Funding ratios and eligible costs may vary by project. Attention to current guidelines and timelines is important.
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Air Quality Small Grant Program
https://www.acogok.org/transportation-planning/air-quality/grants/
The Air Quality Small Grant Program at the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) seeks to improve air quality in Central Oklahoma by reducing reliance on single-occupancy vehicle trips. Small transportation infrastructure projects and transit improvements as well as projects focused on congestion relief efforts are all eligible. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
Bicycle racks, repair stations, and signage
Pedestrian signage and pavement markings
Sidewalks and bicycle lanes
New transit facilities such as lines, stations, stops, and terminals
Traffic signalization projects
Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) projects
Traffic calming measures
Criteria and Eligibility
Projects eligible for the program can be no less than $50,000, and must be paramount to the Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program and/or Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). Applicants are required to generate 20 percent of their proposed project budget through local, non-federal funds.
According to Jennifer Sebesta, Division Manager, ACOG Transportation Planning Services Division, a set of evaluation criteria was developed in 2018, to assist in the selection process. “ACOG transportation staff will review the grant applications and the applications will be graded on factors including the grant’s potential to meet stated goals of the program,” she said.
Applicants must be located within the boundaries of the Central Oklahoma Transportation Management Area (TMA), and may include:
ACOG MPO member local governments (towns, cities, and counties)
Transit agencies
Public school districts, public schools, or public universities (with support from local municipality)
Tribal governments