BCAG Butte County Association of Governments

As part of the development of the new 2021 FTIP, staff is initiating a “call for projects” to accept new Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program for funding consideration. The purpose of the CMAQ program is to fund projects which reduce the region’s non-attainment pollutants to address transportation air quality. Staff encourages all applicants to consider leveraging local or other grant funds with CMAQ. In addition, utilizing CMAQ for construction simplifies the project delivery process through Caltrans.

Draft CMAQ Programming Schedule:

 

 

Caltrans has provided BCAG with new funding estimates to be used in the 2021 FTIP. These estimates do not account for existing projects already programmed. The programming levels for BCAG are:

 

           Total: $7,758,011

 

 

Staff is also initiating a “call for projects” for the Highway Improvement Program (HIP).  This process will follow the same process and schedule as the CMAQ. As part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act legislation authorized by Congress, the HIP program was created to fund projects to address needs on the federal-aid system.

 

Eligible work for the HIP program is defined in Title 23 USC 133(B)(1)(A); e.g. construction of highways (federal-aid system roads), bridges and tunnels. Typical activities include environmental, design, right-of-way and construction. No projects on roads classified as a local road or rural minor collector unless:

 

 

It is not known if this program will continue as part of the reauthorization of the FAST Act. The HIP program authorized three years of funding for the following fiscal years:

 

               Total: $1,608,209

 

Rural Minor Collectors are not HIP eligible and are differentiated from Urban Minor Collectors (HIP eligible) using the latest Census Maps. In addition, the project would be required to be included in the RTP/SCS and programmed in the FTIP. Additional guidance information has been posted by Caltrans at: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/fed-and-state-programs/highway-infrastructure-program.

 

Staff will work the CMAQ and HIP programs into the development of the 2021 FTIP through in accordance with the adopted Public Participation Plan.  Draft project recommendations will be presented to the BCAG Board at their December 10, 2020 BCAG Board meeting. Projects selected for programming will be included in the adoption of the 2021 FTIP.  The application forms for new projects are modified PPR (Project Programming Request) XL forms with basic project description, schedule and costs by fiscal year.  These files will be posted and emailed directly to public works staff. CMAQ projects are required to include an emissions analysis.  All projects in the FTIP are required to be financially reasonable through completion.

 

 

 

 

SI UD ESTA INTERESADO A APRENDER MAS SOBRE ESTE PROGRAM O ESTA INTERESADO EN EL PROCESO DE TRANSPORTACION, FAVOR DE COMUNICARSE CON IVAN GARCIA EN: igarcia@bcag.org