What is the CMAQ Program?

The Idaho Transportation Department’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) is a statewide competitive program that provides federal transportation funds to implement cost-effective activities, plans, and projects that are mutually beneficial to transportation and air quality.

Idaho’s CMAQ projects should demonstrate the highest potential for preventing or relieving a community’s particular air quality problem. Planning activities can also be funded to develop a strategic plan that identifies additional projects and programs designed to reduce a community’s transportation-related air quality problems.

The CMAQ Program was created by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), and continues under the current authority found in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA – LU) through fiscal year 2009. In Idaho, by federal law, the CMAQ funds can be used for CMAQ projects or for regular highway projects.

What Projects are Eligible?

CMAQ funding is available throughout all areas of the state which have transportation-related air- quality problems. Needs are determined by local governments, who work with the Idaho Transportation Department, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ), and the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) to identify solutions to transportation-related air-quality problems.

CMAQ projects fall into two categories: construction and non-construction. The non-construction category is further broken out into transit-related projects and all others. Construction projects may include: road surfacing and construction; bicycle and pedestrian route construction; traffic flow improvements, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and intermodal facilities with construction components. Non-construction projects may include: dust control and prevention; transit; conversion of public fleets to alternative fuels; traffic flow improvements and Intelligent Transportation Systems planning; special studies; and alternative transportation education, promotion, and outreach efforts.

CMAQ projects are evaluated and ranked using general air quality and specific project criteria. General criteria for determining whether an area qualifies to apply for CMAQ funding are specified in ITD Administrative Policy A-11-05. Air quality analysis for projects must address both qualitative and quantitative components.

Additionally, Idaho Transportation Board Policy B-11-05 requires uniform statewide comparison of projects for cost-effectiveness. Cost-effectiveness is determined by applicants using an equation to compute cost compared to emissions reductions. Preference in funding is given to CMAQ projects that: