DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Razi Hosseini, P.E., R.P.L.S., Interim Director/City Engineer
COUNCIL DISTRICT IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Proposed Projects for the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program
SUMMARY:
Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) will provide a briefing to the City Council Transportation Committee on the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) call for projects on nine proposed projects and programs totaling an estimated $60.4 million for funding consideration through the FY 2020-2022 Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The AAMPO includes all of Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe Counties, and a portion of Kendall County. On July 17, 2018, Bexar County was designated marginal non-attainment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) effective September 24, 2018. As a result, Bexar County is eligible to receive Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding to assist in meeting transportation conformity requirements.
• Transportation Conformity - Under the national Clean Air Act (CAA), Metropolitan Planning Organizations must show that the short and long-range plans for the region’s transportation system do not worsen air quality. This process is called transportation conformity and ensures transportation and air quality agencies are working toward the same goal of cleaner air.
• CMAQ Funding - Federal funding source allocated by formula to Metropolitan Planning Organizations designated non-attainment, with a population greater than 200,000. CMAQ is a reimbursable program only and all federal and state rules apply. Only projects and programs within Bexar County are eligible for submittal. Applicants can include municipalities, counties, regional mobility authorities, river authorities, and school districts. Funding is estimated at $60 million total for FY 2020-2022 with roughly $20 million estimated per year. This funding is contingent upon the availability of federal funding.
AAMPO has established the following requirements must be met in order to qualify for this call for projects:
• Infrastructure projects submitted must have a minimum construction cost of $1,000,000.
• Only eligible items related to construction will be reimbursable; all development costs (design, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, etc.) are the responsibility of the local implementing agency.
• A minimum 20% cash match on the project or program cost is required.
• Projects adding or reducing roadway capacity (vehicle lanes) are ineligible.
• If any implementing agency submits more than one project or program, they are required to prioritize their submittals.
• Projects or programs selected for funding will be placed in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) for the respective fiscal year.
While AAMPO selects projects for CMAQ funding, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is the federally designated pass-through agency for this funding source. Entities awarded funding will enter into an agreement with TxDOT, who will require reimbursement of their costs for review and coordination of the project or program.
Examples of eligible Projects and Programs are listed below:
Projects
• Congestion reduction and traffic flow improvements
• Freight and intermodal
• Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Transit improvements
Programs
• Diesel engine retrofit and other advanced truck technologies
• Idle reduction
• Bicycle and pedestrian programs
• Public education and outreach
• Transportation Management Associations
• Carpooling and vanpooling
• Travel Demand Management
• Alternative fuels and vehicles
• Inspection and maintenance programs
ISSUE:
The nine projects proposed by TCI have been selected based primarily on the following five factors:
• Ongoing Needs and Challenges
• Locations/Areas of Concern
• Program Continuation
• Leveraged Funding Opportunities
• Volkswagen Beneficiary Mitigation Trust Fund Consideration
The table below provides a brief overview of the nine projects and programs:
Program
Cost/ Potential
Council Project 20% Local Match
Proposed Projects Project Type District Cost1 Match Source
CoSA Transportation Demand Travel Demand Citywide $0.75M $0.15M Future Fiscal
Management (TDM) Programs Management Year Budget
Bicycle Master Plan Update Bicycle & Pedestrian Citywide $1.5M $0.3M Future Fiscal
Programs Year Budget
Medical Center Green Street Bicycle & Pedestrian CD8 $6M $1.2M Future Fiscal
(Hamilton Wolf/ Ewing Halsell) Facilities Year Budget
Citywide Intelligent Congestion Reduction & Citywide $2M $0.4M Future Fiscal
Transportation Systems (ITS) Traffic Flow Improvements Year Budget
Upgrades
Traffic Signal Optimization Congestion Reduction & Citywide $5M $1M Future Fiscal
Traffic Flow Improvements Year Budget
Rittiman Rd at Congestion Reduction & CD2 $30M $6M Future Bond
UPRR Crossing Overpass Traffic Flow Improvements
Binz Engleman at UPRR Congestion Reduction & CD2 $15M $3M Future Bond
Crossing Overpass Traffic Flow Improvements
Westover Hills Blvd / Congestion Reduction & CD6 $1.2M $0.24M Future Fiscal
Military Dr Turn Lanes Traffic Flow Improvements Year Budget
US281 at Basse Rd / US281 at Congestion Reduction & CD1 $12.8M2 $1.28M2 Future Bond
Jones-Maltsberger (TxDOT2) Traffic Flow Improvements
1Project Cost represents only construction cost, local agency is responsible for TOTAL $61.45M $13.57M
design and right-of-way acquisition.
210% overmatch proposed to help ensure project selection, Project Cost not
included in Total, 20% Local Match included in Total.
The list of projects will need to be approved by City Council in March 2019 prior to the April 1, 2019 project submittal deadline. The CMAQ funding program development schedule is as follows:
• May 2019 - Projects scored by AAMPO Committees
• June 2019 - AAMPO hosts public meetings/workshops
• July 2019 - AAMPO Technical Advisory Committee and Transportation Policy Board review the selected projects
• August 2019 - AAMPO Technical Advisory Committee and Transportation Policy Board consideration for approval on the selected projects
In addition to pursuing CMAQ program funding, the City also is actively pursuing funding available to Texas through the Volkswagen Beneficiary Mitigation Trust Fund, administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). TCI closely has been coordinating with the Office of Sustainability and San Antonio Metro Health Department who are leading this effort. Potential projects include City fleet replacement, vehicle electrification programs, and installation of charging stations. The combination of the Volkswagen Beneficiary Mitigation Trust Fund and CMAQ potential projects and programs gives the City a well balanced approach to implementing infrastructure improvements and new programs to improve air quality.
ALTERNATIVES:
This is a briefing only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a briefing only.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends this briefing on nine FY 2020-2022 Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program projects be presented to City Council during a March 2019 “A” Session. City staff will request City Council authorization for the submittal of these nine transportation projects for funding consideration by the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization by April 1, 2019.