Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)

DVRPC's Competitive Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) seeks to fund transportation projects that will improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in the DVRPC Region. CMAQ eligible projects will demonstrably reduce air pollution emissions and help the DVRPC region meet the federal health based air quality standards.

The application period for the DVRPC Competitive CMAQ Program for Pennsylvania will open soon! Stay tuned for updates.

This CMAQ Program is not a grant program. The sponsor does not receive grant funds to start the project; rather, the sponsor is reimbursed for costs incurred after receiving funding authorization for the project and a notice to proceed. Costs incurred prior to project selection and notice to proceed will not be reimbursed. All awarded projects must authorize federal CMAQ funds by the deadline stated in their award letters. Due to the complexity of managing CMAQ construction projects, DVRPC has previously required a minimum project request be $250,000 for construction projects and $100,000 for transit vehicle acquisitions to expand existing fleet or introduce a new transit service.

2018 Awards for New Jersey

Sponsor County Title Type Award Amount
Gloucester Township Camden Gloucester Township Bicycle Trail, Oak Avenue to Evesham Road Circuit Trail Construction (Construction) $958,500
Mercer County Mercer Intersection Improvements, Hamilton Avenue (CR 606) and Kuser Road (CR 619)/Ward Avenue and Hamilton Avenue and Liberty Street (in Hamilton Twp.) Congestion Reduction & Traffic Flow Improvements (Construction) $1,185,000
Lawrence Township Mercer Maidenhead Meadows Trail Circuit Trail Construction (Construction) $1,214,400
NJDEP Various It Pay$ to Plug In: New Jersey's Electric Vehicle Charging Grants Program Alternative Fuel Vehicle Program Expansion for Private & Public Entities $200,000
NJDEP Various Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Idle Reduction Grant Program Idling Reduction Grant Program/Pilot Program $216,000
NJDEP Various Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive Events Public Education & Outreach $124,440

What are CMAQ Eligible Projects?

Examples of eligible CMAQ projects include pedestrian and bicycle projects, transit improvement programs, including transit vehicle purchases for fleet expansion or to introduce a new transit service, congestion reduction and traffic flow improvements, and funding of transportation demand management programs, among others. Please refer to DVRPC’s latest CMAQ Guidance and FHWA web links below for further details.

What are Not CMAQ Eligible Projects?

As a general rule, highway or transit maintenance and reconstruction projects, and the construction of single occupancy vehicle (SOV) capacity are not CMAQ eligible activities. Operating costs for bike share programs are not eligible. Please refer to DVRPC’s most recent CMAQ Guidance and FHWA web links below for more information.

In previous DVRPC competitive programs, pre-construction activities were not accepted. The DVRPC FY2018 Competitive CMAQ Program for New Jersey did not accept diesel retrofit projects, advance technology vehicles (e.g. hybrid cars or SUVs, electric vehicles, or CNG/ULEV vehicles), alternative fuel (e.g. clean diesel), requests to purchase transit replacements vehicles, or non-transit vehicle purchases.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Public agencies and public – private partnerships with a public agency sponsor are eligible to apply for the Competitive CMAQ Program funds. Project sponsors must comply with all federal requirements, including but not limited to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) contract set-asides, consultant selection procedures, the competitive bid process, and the American with Disabilities Act requirements. The public agency partner is responsible for applying for the CMAQ funds through DVRPC and overseeing and protecting the investment of the federal funds used in a public–private partnership project. Projects will not be eligible if they result in creating a competitive advantage of one private entity over another. Federal law requires that a legal, written agreement be in place between the public agency and private or non-profit entity before implementing any CMAQ-funded project. Though these agreements need not be finalized at the time the application is submitted, the application must include letters of intent between the parties indicating willingness to enter into such agreement, if the project is selected.

Resources

Questions

Questions for the Competitive CMAQ Program in New Jersey should be directed to Kwan Hui at khui@dvrpc.org or (215) 238 - 2894. For Pennsylvania, please contact Rick Murphy at rmurphy@dvrpc.org or (215) 238 – 2946.