Regional Programs

CMAQ Program

 

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program is supported by federal funds allocated to the NJTPA region and advances readily implementable and innovative projects and services that improve air quality and reduce congestion in the NJTPA’s air quality maintenance and non-attainment areas.  Eligibility for the grants is limited to NJTPA member subregions and agencies, Transportation Management Associations, other public agencies, and public-private partnerships. NJTPA’s CMAQ program has two categories Local Mobility Initiatives (LMI) and Transportation Clean Air Measures (TCAMs).

Local Mobility Initiatives | Shuttle and Micromobility Services

Administered in partnership with NJ TRANSIT, this program is designed to advance transit and micromobility strategies that improve air quality, encourage and increase transit use, walking, and biking, support active transportation, and improve personal mobility.

​​1. Shuttles: Operational Support and Vehicle Replacement 

LMI shuttle services enable the development of financially sustainable and innovative shuttle services that provide increased opportunities for the public to connect to major transit routes and provide last-mile connections to major destinations. This program also funds replacement vehicles for existing or expanded shuttle services.

• Operational Support:
  • Available for new and expanded shuttle services
  • Reimbursement request program for costs associated with shuttle operations administered by NJ TRANSIT
  • Federal Funds may be utilized for three to five years
  • The program requires a 25 percent local match for shuttle operations
• Vehicles Replacement and Purchase
  • Available for existing and expanding public shuttle/shared ride services
  • Vehicles procured by NJ TRANSIT
  • NJ TRANSIT is responsible for oversight until the vehicle's useful life has expired
  • No local match required for vehicle replacement

2. Micromobility

Micromobility is a new eligible activity under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CMAQ Improvement Program. Micromobility projects must intend to reduce SOV trips and congestion, improve air quality, encourage and increase walking, biking, and transit trips, increase micromobility access and use, support active transportation, help reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), create first-last-mile connections, and improve personal mobility.

• Device and docking purchase
  • This program will only fund the purchase of micromobility devices and docking.
  • All purchases must be compliant with Buy America standards.
  • Funds from this program cannot be used to fund operating expenses such as fares, software to reserve and pay for rides, utility charges, rebalancing and repair of the bikes/scooters, and staff expenses to manage the program.

Transportation Clean Air Measures (TCAMs)

Non-shuttle projects compete for funding as Transportation Clean Air Measures (TCAMs) that will reduce pollutant emissions and congestion in the NJTPA region. Successful TCAMs will augment existing environmentally beneficial programs with new and innovative approaches, take advantage of cross-jurisdictional partnerships, have the potential to inspire or support further actions, garner public support and interest, and leverage other funding sources.

Proposals can include but are not limited to:

• Diesel emissions reduction

• Engine idle reduction

• Traffic signal optimization

• Intelligent transportation systems

• Intermodal freight

• Bicycle and pedestrian projects

• Travel demand management

• Public education

• Alternative fuels and vehicles

After funds are authorized by FHWA, TCAM project sponsors have a maximum of three years to complete the project. The minimum match for projects is 20 percent from public agencies (Up to 100 percent of funding is available for certain projects subject to federal approval) and 50 percent from private firms.

Current Funding

Solicitations are issued about every three years. The NJTPA conducted a solicitation for the CMAQ programs during 2020 (the solicitation materials are in Related Documents box). A blog article about the projects funded for FY 2021-2023 is here.  The funded  projects are the following:

Contacts:

• Questions related to the Local Mobility Initiatives program should be directed to Jasmine Lawrence, Principal Planner, TMA & Mobility Programs ( [email protected])
• Questions related to Transportation Clean Air Measures should be directed to Liz DeRuchie, Manager, Air Quality and Conformity ([email protected])