Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) is a Federal program that funds transportation projects and programs in air quality nonattainment and maintenance areas to help achieve and maintain national standards for air quality pollutants. In North Carolina, NCDOT serves as the administrator for this program.
Funding is apportioned to North Carolina based on the population in non-attainment and maintenance areas of the state and the severity of air quality problem. NC’s allocation of CMAQ funding is split in three pots available for funding, as follows:
- Statewide CMAQ funds are administered by NCDOT and are awarded to prioritized NCDOT-driven CMAQ eligible projects either on a statewide tier facility or involving a system wide improvement within nonattainment and maintenance areas. Statewide CMAQ funds are not subject to regional or subregional allocations or the allocation formula. This category accounts for 35% of the total North Carolina CMAQ apportionment.
- Regional CMAQ funds are locally-administered and awarded to projects spanning more than one air quality region that cannot be considered subregional projects. Air quality regions are Catawba, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Metrolina, Rocky Mount, Triad and Triangle. The local project sponsor is responsible for providing the required match. This category accounts for 5% of the total North Carolina CMAQ apportionment.
- Subregional CMAQ funds are locally-administered and awarded at the MPO/RPO level to projects within eligible counties. The local project sponsor is responsible for providing the required match and meeting federal funding requirements. This category accounts for 60% of the total North Carolina CMAQ apportionment.
