The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is responsible for recommending the allocation of federal funds from two key programs: The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program and the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP). These funds play a crucial role in addressing congestion issues, improving accessibility and enhancing air quality throughout Northern Virginia.
Implementation
Call for Projects
Every fall, NVTA issues a call for projects for CMAQ and RSTP.
Allocation
In winter, NVTA staff review submitted projects form jurisdictions and agencies and allocate funds. Factors considered: air quality benefits, regional significance, previous funding and jurisdiction/agency priority.
Recommendations
In spring, NVTA staff share the proposal with the Authority for final recommendation to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB).
Adoption
In summer, the CTB approves CMAQ/RSTP allocations, and includes them in the state Six Year Improvement Program (SYIP)
In addition to managing and programming HB 2313 (2013) revenues, the Authority handles Northern Virginia’s annual programming of CMAQ and RSTP funds, which are part of the overall mix of transportation funding available to Northern Virginia. These funds are available to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) with populations greater than 200,000. While NVTA is not a federally designated MPO, it fulfills this function for Northern Virginia. With regional collaboration in mind, the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) works with the Regional Jurisdiction and Agency Coordinating Committee (RJACC) to recommend the allocation of approximately $90 million annually in CMAQ and RSTP-funds.
NVTA staff assume the same funding level for the outer sixth year of the Commonwealth’s Six Year Improvement Program (SYIP) and solicit applications along with governing body resolution of support and air quality benefit calculations using Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and/or Federal forms for CMAQ projects. Working with RJACC, NVTA staff develop a draft strawman of projects, which is then presented to the Authority for recommendation to the CTB.
CMAQ Allocation
The projects funded under CMAQ include regional projects such as Commuter Connections, Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC) and Clean Air Partners; jurisdiction projects such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), bike-pedestrian projects, roundabouts, and signal optimization; and agency projects such as WMATA and PRTC bus replacements, VRE platform improvements, and VDOT Safety Service Patrols. NVTA recommended $24 million in FY2031 funding for projects for CTB approval.
CMAQ funds projects that improve air quality and mitigate congestion. Projects eligible for CMAQ funding include non-recreational bike facilities, pedestrian facilities, alternate fuel projects, traffic monitoring/management/control facilities, etc.
2026
$23,713,070
2027
$20,482,441
2028
$23,711,788
2029
$24,457,736
2030
$24,000,000
2031
$24,000,000
RSTP Allocation
The projects funded under RSTP include jurisdiction and agency projects such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), purchase of electric/zero emission buses, bike-pedestrian projects, roundabouts, road improvements and interchanges. NVTA recommended $66 million in FY2031 funding for projects for CTB approval.
RSTP funds projects to improve and preserve conditions and performance on federal-aid highways, public bridges and tunnels, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and transit capital projects.
2026
$56,863,354
2027
$54,566,520
2028
$65,657,893
2029
$67,386,853
2030
$66,000.000
2031
$66,000.000
*Transfer of Funds: Transfer of approved funds from one project to another is allowed in circumstances such as completion of donor project with funds remaining, immediate need on another project, etc. On September 11, 2008, the Authority delegated the authority to approve requests to reallocate CMAQ and RSTP funding between projects that were previously approved by NVTA to RJACC. However, the Authority will need to approve the transfer requests for new projects that were previously not approved by NVTA before any funds can be reallocated.