Title
From the Director, Department of Transportation and Public Works, and the Managing Director, Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), submitting an informational report regarding Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funded Express Service Projects. (INFORMATIONAL ONLY UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY THE COMMITTEE).
Body
POLICY
Proposed additions, deletions and modifications to transit routes and services are subject to County Board approval prior to implementation. Requests for such changes are researched and reported to the County Board by Transit System and DTPW staff.
BACKGROUND
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to inform the Committee of steps being taken by DTPW and Transit System staff in an effort to secure available Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds for use in creating new fixed route express bus service in 2012 which would allow MCTS to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and restore some of fixed route local bus service changes that were included in MCTS’ 2012 recommended budget.
The CMAQ Program
The CMAQ program was created under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 and later reauthorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The purpose of the CMAQ program is to fund transportation programs that will contribute to attainment or maintenance of the national ambient air quality standards for ozone, carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM). CMAQ provides funding for transportation related projects aimed at improving air quality and reducing congestion in the State’s air quality non-attainment areas.
To be eligible for CMAQ operating assistance funds, a project must be included in the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) current transportation plan and Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). General conditions that must be met for operating assistance to be eligible under the CMAQ program include:...
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