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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 7, 2023 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-g <br /> SUBJECT: Approval of Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) Project <br /> DEPARTMENT: Orange County Transportation Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. December 13, 2022 CMAQ Letter Nishith Trivedi, Transportation Director, <br /> 2. CMAQ Resolution of Local Support 919-245-2007 <br /> PURPOSE: To review and approve Orange County's Congestion Management and Air Quality <br /> (CMAQ) and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) project, and approve the associated Resolution. <br /> BACKGROUND: The CMAQ program was implemented to support surface transportation <br /> projects and other related efforts that contribute to air quality improvements and provide <br /> congestion relief. The program is jointly administered by the Federal Highway Administration <br /> (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Funds are made available through the <br /> North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and applications are facilitated by the <br /> Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st <br /> Century Act (MAP-21), funds are provided to areas in nonattainment or maintenance for ozone, <br /> carbon monoxide, and/or particulate matter. Orange County is classified as an area in <br /> Maintenance. CMAQ funds require a state or local match. The typical split between federal and <br /> project sponsor is 80 percent Federal and 20 percent State and/or local match. For this grant, <br /> Orange County contributed a 20 percent local match. <br /> The Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL) established the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). The <br /> U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) must establish a carbon reduction formula program for <br /> states to reduce transportation emissions. Eligible state funding activities include truck stop <br /> electrification, diesel engine retrofits, vehicle-to-infrastructure communications equipment, public <br /> transportation, port electrification, and deployment of alternative fuel vehicles, including charging <br /> or fueling infrastructure and the purchase or lease of zero emission vehicles. Funding can also be <br /> used to support the development of state carbon reduction strategies by November 15, 2023, in <br /> consultation with designated metropolitan planning organizations. At the request of a state, DOT <br /> must provide technical assistance in the development of the carbon reduction strategy. State <br /> projects will be treated as Federal-aid Highway Program projects. Additional funding eligibility and <br /> considerations will apply. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact associated with this item. However, <br /> should the County be awarded either CMAQ or CRP funding, it will be required to provide 20 <br /> percent local match for the project's overall cost and local administration. This will be <br /> choreographed with the County's budget process. <br />