City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of the FY2015 - FY 2020 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Funding Requests
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ISSUE: Consideration of the FY2015 - FY2020 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) project funding requests.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. As recommended by the Transportation Commission, adopt the projects discussed below as the City's FY2015-FY2020 CMAQ-RSTP request; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to apply for these grants, and to enter into necessary agreements with the Commonwealth of Virginia to accept these grants.
BACKGROUND: Since 1993-1994, the Commonwealth has allocated CMAQ and RSTP funding to the northern Virginia region. CMAQ funds are allocated to metropolitan regions that do not meet the standards established in the Clean Air Act. The funds must be used for activities that improve air quality and may not be used to increase the capacity of roadways. The new federal transportation legislation (MAP-21) placed considerable emphasis on diesel engine retrofits and other efforts that underscore the priority on reducing fine particle pollution (PM 2.5). RSTP funds are very flexible and can be used for a wide range of regional transportation activities.
The annual funding allocations for the entire region typically total approximately $30 million for CMAQ funds and $40 million for RSTP funds. NVTA distributes the funds to the jurisdictions based on jurisdiction requests.
In 2012, the Commonwealth adopted its first multi-year plan for CMAQ and RSTP funds. For the last two years, a six-y...
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