Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program provides funding for projects that help improve air quality in regions that are designated as non-attainment or maintenance areas as defined by air quality standards. Projects classified as Transportation Control Measures (TCMs) are eligible. TCMs are projects such as carpool lanes, mass transit investments, transportation demand management programs, signal coordination, and bicycling facilities. All project phases (from planning to construction) are eligible for funding. Funds cannot be used for projects that increase capacity of single occupancy vehicle facilities.
California's apportionment is estimated at $2 billion for the term of SAFETEA, of which San Bernardino County's share is approximately $145.8 million. These funds are divided between the two air basins within San Bernardino County:
- The South Coast Air Basin (generally the valley and mountain regions), which is currently designated as a "severe" non-attainment area; and
- The Mojave Desert Air Basin (generally the desert region), which is designated as a non-attainment area.
The SANBAG Board of Directors issues periodic calls-for-projects within each air basin where local agencies within San Bernardino County can compete for allocation of these funds. There is a non-federal matching fund requirement of 11.47 percent for most CMAQ-eligible projects. CMAQ funds are awarded on a reimbursement basis through the Caltrans Local Assistance process. Fund recipients are required to receive authorization from Caltrans before any reimbursable work begins.
For more information on the CMAQ Program, go to:
• CMAQ Projects
Awarded Funding by SANBAG (28K pdf - updated 7/17/03)
• Caltrans
CMAQ Website
• Caltrans
CMAQ Obligation Report