CMAQ Funding Supports Clean Air and SSPs
With over 40% of SSP funding coming from the state, some states have used the connection between SSPs and clean air to expand the programs’ funding sources. Maryland, Arizona and California are examples of states that have incorporated the FHWA’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program to support SSPs.
State and local governments’ transportation projects that help to meet requirements set forth by the Clean Air Act (CAA) qualify to receive funding from CMAQ. “CMAQ money supports transportation projects that reduce mobile source emissions in areas designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as in non attainment or maintenance of national ambient air quality standards.”
Key funding requirements of CMAQ:
- Funds must be invested in a state’s non attainment or maintenance area(s)
- Funding must be spent on projects that reduce ozone (O3) precursors – volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) – carbon monoxide (CO), or particulate matter (PM) from transportation sources
- CMAQ projects must come from a transportation plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
- CMAQ projects must conform to established CMAQ guidance.
For the majority of CMAQ projects, federal funding contributes 80 percent. The program, however, works on a reimbursable basis; therefore, the funds are not provided to the state until the project work is completed.