Transportation Air Quality

SEMCOG is pleased to announce the Call for Projects for the FY 2027 – 2029 funding cycle for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program and Carbon Reduction Program. These programs combined aim to reduce congestion and vehicle emissions to improve air quality throughout Southeast Michigan.

Important Dates:

Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants are those the State of Michigan classifies as “Act-51 agencies”. These include county road commissions, incorporated villages, incorporated cities, public transit agencies including the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA), the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and SEMCOG.

Public or private entities other than those listed above may only apply for funding if they have assigned Sponsorship Agreement with an Act-51 eligible agency located in Southeast Michigan.

Project Eligibility
What Projects Are Eligible? Projects eligible under either CMAQ or Carbon Reduction may include but are not limited to:

• Enhancements to public transportation (e.g., new bus routes, electric buses)
• Improvements in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure (e.g., bike lanes, sidewalks)
• Development of alternative fuel vehicle programs
• Implementation of traffic management, including intersection improvements to ease congestion and improve flow
• Initiatives promoting telecommuting and other innovative mobility solutions

For a more complete list of eligible projects, please see the FHWA’s CMAQ and Carbon Reduction facts sheets.

Call for Projects Documents and Links
The call for projects is now closed.
The following is a list of documents to complete your application:

• Act-51 Sponsorship Agreement
• CMAQ & CRP Application Instructions and Schedule
• CMAQ and CRP FAQs
• FHWA Emissions Calculator Toolkit
• SEMCOG University Webinar: CMAQ and CRP Call for Projects FY 2027-2029

Project Selection Criteria
The eligible CMAQ and CRP projects will be selected competitively within the region. Depending upon the number of candidates submitted, all applications may not be funded or may receive partial funding. On October 1st, the SEMCOG Regional Review Committee adopted the following criteria to rank submissions for the CMAQ and CRP FY 2027 – 2029 Call for Projects:

• All applications will be ranked by cost-effectiveness. Cost-effectiveness is defined as the cost to reduce each ton of combined emissions related to each program over the estimated useful life of the project (See Cost-Effectiveness Point Scale on SEMCOG’s Transportation Air Quality webpage for examples of cost-effectiveness calculations and the point table).
• Primary: The primary criterion for both the CMAQ and CRP programs will be cost-effectiveness, measured by the estimated reduction in emissions (in kg) per dollar of project cost.
  •  CMAQ Projects: Emissions reductions will be measured for carbon monoxide (CO), ozone     (volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)) and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).
  • CRP Projects: Emissions reductions will be measured for carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Secondary: Additional factors, including regional equity emphasis areas and/or Justice40 areas, geographic representation, historical receipt of CMAQ or CRP funding, and adopted regional goals when selection projects for funding.

For more information about CMAQ or Carbon Reduction, contact Adam Elghoul, SEMCOG at [email protected].

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Improvement Program funds transportation projects that help meet national air quality standards. This federally funded program focuses on improving air quality and reducing traffic congestion. SEMCOG administers the CMAQ program for Southeast Michigan, working with local road and transit agencies to develop projects that enhance air quality.
Past Projects
FY 2019 CMAQ Project List
FY 2020 CMAQ Project List
FY21-23 Project List 
FY24-26 Project List

The Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), a newer program established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, provides funding for projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions from on-road vehicles. SEMCOG’s Regional Review Committee awarded CRP funding for projects in Southeast Michigan for fiscal years 2023-2026. You can find the awarded projects in the documents below:
FY 2023 Carbon Reduction Program Project Awards List

FY 2024-2026 Carbon Reduction Program Awards List

If there are questions regarding a sponsorship agreement with an Act-51 agency, please reach out the appropriate contact below: