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M <br />16. Magnetic Levitation Transportation Technology Deployment Programs: CMAQ funds <br />may be used to fund a portion of the full project costs (including planning, engineering, and <br />construction) pursuant to section 1218 - Magnetic Levitation Transportation Technology <br />Deployment Program of TEA -2112 and in accordance with the provisions of section 1218. <br />17. Experimental Pilot Projects: States and local areas have long experimented with various <br />types of transportation services- -and different means of employing them - -in an effort to <br />better meet the travel needs of their constituents. These "experimental" projects may not <br />meet the precise eligibility criteria for Federal and State funding programs, but they may <br />show promise in meeting the intended public purpose of those programs in an innovative <br />way, The FHWA and FTA have supported this approach in the past and funded some of <br />these projects as demonstrations to determine their benefits and costs, <br />The CMAQ provisions of TEA -21 allow experimentation provided that the project or program <br />can reasonably be defined as a "transportation" project and that emission reductions can <br />reasonably be expected "through reductions in vehicle miles traveled (VMT), fuel <br />consumption or through other factors." This guidance encourages States and MPOs to <br />creatively address their transportation /air quality problems and to experiment with new <br />services, innovative financing arrangements, public - private partnerships and <br />complementary approaches that constitute comprehensive strategies to reduce emissions <br />through transportation programs, The CMAQ program can be used to support a well <br />conceived project even if the proposal may not otherwise meet the eligibility criteria of this <br />guidance. Proposals submitted for funding under this provision should show promise in <br />reducing transportation emissions in nonattainment or maintenance areas and should have <br />the concurrence of the MPO, State transportation agency and the FHWA/FTA. Such <br />proposals must also be coordinated with EPA and State /local air quality agencies. <br />While the CMAQ provisions of TEA -21 were written broadly to encourage an innovative <br />approach, the principles of sound program management must still be followed. Under this <br />approach, there will likely be proposals for funding with which transportation agencies have <br />little experience. As such, before - and -after studies are required to determine the actual <br />project impacts on the transportation network (measured in VMT or trips reduced, or other <br />appropriate measure) and on air quality (emissions reduced), An assessment of the <br />project's benefits should be forwarded to FHWA or FTA documenting the immediate <br />impacts as well as a projection of the project's long -term benefits. <br />All projects funded under this section should be explicitly identified in the annual report of <br />CMAQ activities as required under section IX of this guidance. In future years, when <br />before- and -after studies are complete, a summary of the actual project benefits should also <br />be included in the annual report. The amount obligated for proposals made pursuant to this <br />section should not exceed 25 percent of a State's yearly CMAQ apportionment <br />