The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Assessing 10 Years of Experience -- Special Report 264 (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Chapter 3 - Overview of CMAQ Program Operations
Chapter 3 - Overview of CMAQ Program Operations
Pages 85-119
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From page 85... ...
, the 6-year, $6 billion CMAQ pro gram represented slightly less than 4 percent of the $155 billion authorized for highways, highway safety, and mass transportation. Although CMAQ funding was increased to $8 billion during the 6-year life of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)
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From page 86... ...
suballocates CMAQ funds to nonattainment and maintenance areas in the state using the same formula by which national-level CMAQ funds are allocated to California. 2According to congressional staff, at the inception of the program, CMAQ funding formulas also offered a way to distribute funds to those large states that otherwise would not have fared as well under the new ISTEA funding formulas (presentation to the committee by Chris Bertram, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Ground Transportation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, October 12, 1999)
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From page 87... ...
is noticeably absent as a factor in the federal apportionment formula. CMAQ funds can be spent on proj ects in nonattainment and maintenance areas for PM10 (FHWA 1999, 7)
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From page 88... ...
Ozone Submarginal .8 Marginal 1.0 Moderate 1.1 Serious 1.2 Severe 1.3 Extreme 1.4 CO Nonattainment (for CO only) 1.0 Ozone and CO Ozone nonattainment or maintenance and 1.1 × ozone factora CO maintenance Ozone nonattainment or maintenance and 1.2 × ozone factora CO nonattainment Minimum apportionment, 1 /2 of 1 percent of total annual apportionment of NA all states CMAQ funds Note: NA = not applicable.
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From page 89... ...
The federal share for most eligible CMAQ projects is 80 percent, and up to 90 percent if the funds are used on the Interstate system. That share may be increased to 100 percent for some projects men tioned specifically in the statute.6 Eligible Activities According to CMAQ program guidance, the primary purpose of the program is to fund projects in nonattainment and maintenance areas that are aimed at reducing transportation-related emissions (FHWA 1999, 1)
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From page 90... ...
For example, CMAQ funds can be used to purchase pri vately owned vehicles or fleets using alternative fuels, but the funding is limited to the federal share of the incremental cost of an alternative-fuel vehicle as compared with that of a conventionally fueled vehicle (FHWA 1999, 13)
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From page 91... ...
Traffic flow improvement programs that achieve emission reductions; (vi) Fringe and transportation corridor parking facilities serv ing multiple-occupancy vehicle programs or transit service; (vii)
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From page 92... ...
Transportation Control Measures Included in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, Eligible for CMAQ Funding (xv) Programs for new construction and major reconstruction of paths, tracks or areas solely for the use by pedestrian or other non-motorized means of transportation when economically feasible and in the public interest.
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From page 93... ...
However, as the com mittee's case study results show, practices differ across the regions. CMAQ projects can be proposed by many different organizations- counties, cities, transit operators and transportation authorities, and state DOTs (typically the local district office in a nonattainment area)
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From page 94... ...
: -Determine Screen- Develop- Select- selection project state cities, public propose CMAQ projects and 3-1 Initiation: counties, agencies, partners develop vate Project DOTs, transit transportation authorities, pri and Figure
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From page 95... ...
At a minimum, the state DOT determines the amount of CMAQ funds available to nonattainment and maintenance areas14 and may also recommend projects in these areas. The MPO typically has lead responsibility for the prioritization, evaluation, and selec tion of CMAQ projects for funding.15 The MPO is also responsible for ensuring that selected projects come from or are included in a con forming transportation plan and TIP.
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From page 96... ...
Classification of Projects FHWA requires the states to report annually on the amount of CMAQ funds obligated for each project financed by the program. FHWA further instructs the states to classify CMAQ projects into six categories16 and to report project-level obligations by this classi fication scheme: · Transit, · Other shared ride (e.g., vanpool and carpool)
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From page 97... ...
and traf fic flow improvements (33 percent)
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From page 98... ...
0660-04/CH03 6/12/02 4:02 PM Page 98 Ride 10% 4% 9% Shared Ped./Bike STP/CMAQ Mgmt. 7% Other 6% Demand Projects of database.)
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From page 99... ...
0660-04/CH03 6/12/02 4:02 PM Page 99 ) 3.1 12.7 1.5 4.8 7.2 14.9 44.1 8.1 4.6 8.5 1.3 4.7 5.9 33.1 Total continued( 1999 1.9 14.2 2.1 5.5 13.5 15.4 52.6 10.5 1.8 4.7 0.4 2.8 4.9 25.2 FY 1998 1.5 8.7 0.7 5.2 1.8 15.9 33.8 4.6 1.8 8.8 1.1 3.6 15.0 35.0 FY 1997 4.3 9.3 0.8 4.5 2.2 13.1 34.1 8.0 7.8 10.7 0.6 11.4 4.8 43.3 FY Year 1996 2.6 9.5 1.3 5.4 6.8 14.2 39.8 7.7 8.7 12.0 0.2 7.0 2.6 38.2 Fiscal FY for 1995 3.5 15.5 1.2 4.6 13.3 13.1 51.2 9.9 2.4 8.5 0.7 3.2 4.6 29.4 FY Percentage Year 1994 2.9 17.1 1.5 2.3 4.3 12.6 40.6 10.8 0.8 9.6 1.8 2.6 9.8 35.3 FY Fiscal Each 1993 6.9 11.1 2.5 3.6 6.4 18.1 48.6 5.3 0.8 7.4 6.4 2.9 4.5 27.2 for FY Project 1992 0.3 17.8 1.4 9.4 0.0 20.9 49.8 1.9 23.5 5.7 0.8 4.0 0.1 36.0 of FY Type by improvements vehicles management Obligations Subcategory improvements intersection transit and vehicles stop improvements facilities expansions incident other CMAQ bus improvements improvements and and flow and service information 3-4 Category transit signal flow lanes lanes traffic ABLE Alternative-fuel Conventional-fuel Park-and-ride Station Transit Other Subtotal Congestion HOV Traffic Traveler Turn Other Subtotal T Project Transit Traffic
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From page 100... ...
0660-04/CH03 6/12/02 4:02 PM Page 100 1.4 2.4 3.8 3.2 0.8 2.1 2.9 5.4 0.6 0.9 0.4 4.2 1.5 7.6 Total 100.0 1999 0.5 2.5 2.9 2.7 0.6 1.5 2.1 3.3 0.0 0.9 0.1 9.9 0.2 11.1 FY 100.0 1998 1.0 2.7 3.7 4.4 1.2 2.4 3.5 7.9 0.6 1.1 0.3 8.9 0.8 11.7 100.0 FY 1997 1.3 1.7 3.1 4.9 0.2 2.3 2.4 6.1 1.3 0.4 0.8 2.3 1.2 6.0 FY 100.0 Year 1996 1.2 1.6 2.8 4.0 1.8 2.5 4.2 5.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 2.8 2.9 5.9 Fiscal FY 100.0 for Year 1995 3.0 2.0 5.0 1.5 0.8 1.9 2.7 3.5 1.5 0.8 0.9 2.6 0.9 6.7 100.0 FY Fiscal Percentage Each 1994 1.1 3.1 4.2 2.2 1.1 3.1 4.3 6.3 0.8 2.5 0.2 2.5 1.1 7.1 100.0 FY for 1993 1.6 4.0 5.6 3.0 0.2 1.7 2.0 6.8 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.1 4.9 6.8 Project 100.0 FY of Type 1992 0.8 2.1 2.9 3.0 0.0 1.2 1.2 6.6 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.5 by 100.0 FY Obligations PM CMAQ ) reduce Subcategory maintenance to and and unclassifiable continued( facilities ride reduction management vehicles bicycle and sweeping trip and and inspection improvements 3-4 Category ride shared management demand projects freight total other ABLE Park-and-ride Other Subtotal Employee Other Subtotal Alternative-fuel Paving Rail Vehicle All Subtotal T Project Shared Pedestrian Demand STP/CMAQ Other Grand
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From page 101... ...
shows that project costs in many program categories are modest.17 For example, the median or 50th-percentile project in the pedestrian and bicycle, shared ride, and demand management categories costs near or below $200,000. Several types of traffic flow improvements were also funded at this level, although projects focused on HOV lanes and congestion and incident management tended to be larger.
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From page 102... ...
Source: FHWA CMAQ database.
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From page 103... ...
reveals large variations in how CMAQ funds are obligated across the regions. For example, during fiscal years 1992 through 1999, transit projects accounted for the largest share of total CMAQ spending in Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, and 10.
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From page 104... ...
0660-04/CH03 6/12/02 4:02 PM Page 104 1 ionge R 2 ionge 3 R ionge R 4 5 ionge ionge R R 7 ionge regions. R 6 9 ionge R Region 8 Transportation ionge of R 10 Region 9 10 ionge ionge Department R U.S.
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From page 105... ...
Percentage (FY 1.6 5.6 0.0 1.9 6.3 9.4 24.8 13.7 1.4 14.5 3.4 12.5 6.8 52.5 Region 1.7 26.2 2.3 1.6 11.4 9.2 52.4 4.8 0.5 8.3 0.6 4.4 13.4 32.0 Each for 2.0 8.7 0.4 9.4 1.1 25.1 46.7 5.9 0.5 5.3 3.7 5.3 4.3 25.1 Project 123456789 1.0 9.7 4.9 9.5 16.5 14.7 56.3 3.1 3.0 7.2 0.4 3.5 1.8 19.0 of Type by improvements vehicles management Obligations Subcategory improvements intersection and transit vehicles stop improvements facilities expansions incident other CMAQ bus improvements improvements and and flow and service information 3-6 Category transit signal flow lanes lanes traffic ABLE Alternative-fuel Conventional-fuel Park-and-ride Station Transit Other Subtotal Congestion HOV Traffic Traveler Turn Other Subtotal T Project Transit Traffic
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From page 106... ...
reduce Subcategory maintenance to and and unclassifiable continued( facilities ride reduction management vehicles bicycle and sweeping trip and and inspection improvements 3-6 Category ride shared management demand projects freight total other ABLE Park-and-ride Other Subtotal Employee Other Subtotal Alternative-fuel Paving Rail Vehicle All Subtotal T Project Shared Pedestrian Demand STP/CMAQ Other Grand
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From page 107... ...
After 1991, the largest expenditure of funds was still on highways, but highway funds were also used to support bicycle and pedestrian, transit, and rideshare projects; CMAQ funds were dominant in the latter two project categories. Despite the indication that CMAQ funds did play a role in sup porting a more diverse set of projects in the post-ISTEA Albany area, 18The results of this effort were summarized in a memorandum entitled "The Impact of the CMAQ Program on Types of Projects Funded Under Title 23 of the United States Code in Albany, New York," by Michael Savonis, Team Leader for Air Quality at FHWA, which was presented to the committee on March 23, 2001.
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From page 108... ...
State DOTs, MPOs, transit agencies, transportation authorities, cities and counties, state and local air agencies, and other selected public interest and business groups were interviewed to solicit their views concerning: · The air quality planning and policy context in which CMAQ program and project decisions are made; · Perceived program goals and objectives, including both pri mary and secondary objectives and likely effects of discontinuing the program; · Decision-making procedures for CMAQ project identification, selection, design, implementation, costs, and evaluation (e.g., effec tiveness measures) ; and · Program strengths and weaknesses and suggested areas for improvement.
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From page 109... ...
. Although the results can not be generalized across all nonattainment and maintenance areas covered under the program, the case study sites include some of the largest metropolitan areas and users of CMAQ funds.
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From page 110... ...
Not surprisingly, in those case study sites with serious air quality problems, the CMAQ program is viewed as an important element in maintaining conformity with the NAAQS and SIP budget targets. For example, when the Washington, D.C., area is in danger of exceeding its SIP mobile source emissions budget, TCMs from an areawide agreed-upon list are implemented; Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia use CMAQ funds for these projects.20 In updating conformity estimates, some nonattainment areas account for the travel- and pollution-reducing effects [e.g., reductions in trips or in vehicle-miles traveled (VMT)
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From page 111... ...
They control the way CMAQ funds are suballocated, subject to the restriction, of course, that the funds must be spent within nonattainment and maintenance areas. States are also accountable for how CMAQ funds are spent and must report annually to FHWA on project obligations and estimated emission reductions.
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From page 112... ...
In all the case study sites, the state DOT, usually the local district office, nominates projects for CMAQ funding, as do many other local agencies. Typically, the area MPO has the lead responsibility for developing a consensus list of projects for funding and program ming.21 However, in two of the five case study sites -- Houston and Washington, D.C.
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From page 113... ...
In all cases, the flexibil ity offered by CMAQ funds -- which can be used for a broad range of activities, in contrast to the funds provided by many other trans portation programs, which are restricted to specific programmatic uses -- makes them highly desirable to local governments. The breadth of participation by government agencies and non governmental groups in the CMAQ program differs widely across the case study sites, making generalizations difficult.
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From page 114... ...
; the San Bernardino Associated Governments and one of its air districts; and the Chicago region, where the Illinois EPA is part of the CATS CMAQ project selection team. 27See the discussion of the Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles site visits in Appendix D for examples of such criteria and ranking systems.
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From page 115... ...
As noted earlier, at a minimum, all regions that receive CMAQ funds are required by FHWA to report annually on the cost and emis sion reduction potential of all funded projects, information that is then collected in the national CMAQ database. The area MPO often takes the lead in this activity in a region.
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From page 116... ...
The CMAQ legislation explicitly prohibits construction proj ects that add new capacity for SOV travel. An analysis of program obligations for the first 8 program years drawn from FHWA's CMAQ database reveals that funding has been concentrated in two relatively traditional areas: transit and traffic flow improvements accounted for approximately three-quarters of CMAQ obligations during fiscal years 1992 through 1999.
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From page 117... ...
One notable difference among the case study sites is the extent to which regions give special consideration to the identification and selection of projects for CMAQ funding. Some areas have a separate call for CMAQ projects, advertise widely, and provide staff support to encourage project proposals.
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From page 118... ...
At a minimum, all regions that receive CMAQ funding must attempt to estimate the emission effects of individual projects. The state compiles the regional results and reports them to FHWA for inclusion in the national database.
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From page 119... ...
1997. Testimony Regarding Reauthorization of Transportation Related Air Quality Improvement Programs, Hearing (105-28)
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