CMAQ provides federal funding for transportation projects and programs that reduce congestion and improve air quality.

An eligible project sponsor must be a local government in the Ogden/ Layton or Salt Lake Urbanized Area, the Utah Department of Transportation, or the Utah Transit Authority. Other entities can partner with eligible applicants.

Funds must be used for transportation projects which improve air quality within the Urbanized Area. Examples of eligible projects include transportation control measures in the State Air Quality Implementation Plan (SIP); construction/ purchase of new public transportation facilities and equipment; construction of bicycle or pedestrian facilities serving commuter transportation needs; promotion of alternative travel modes, including ridesharing; Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS); and certain traffic control measures, such as traffic signal coordination, intersection improvements, and incident management. The funds may not be used for major road widening.

By population formula, the U.S. Department of Transportation currently apportions approximately $3,000,000 in CMAQ funds each year to the Ogden/ Layton Urbanized Area and approximately $5,500,000 in the Salt Lake Urbanized Area. Funds are programmed over a six-year period and applicants currently will be applying for funds available in federal fiscal year 2031.

In order for the WFRC staff to recommend whether a sponsor should submit an application, the “Letter of Intent” must include the project name, project limits, a brief project description, and an estimated total project cost. A list of all the projects appropriately submitted will be distributed to members of the Councils of Governments (COGs) and will be reviewed by WFRC to determine program eligibility. This letter should be signed by the Mayor, County Commissioner, or executive director of the sponsoring agency. Letters of Intent were due September 26, 2024.

Sponsors of eligible projects will be notified and required to submit a new and/or updated “Project Evaluation Concept Report,” “Cost Estimation Form,” and “Emissions Analysis Form” for each project by December 12, 2024. These forms will be reviewed for completeness and supporting documentation. The projects will be evaluated using these reports, an on-site field review of each project, approved technical criteria, and other relevant professional considerations prior to presenting information to the Technical Advisory Committees for review and recommendation. The projects and the recommendations will then be presented to Trans Com for recommendation to the Regional Council.

Application is linked below.