Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)
Approximately every six years, the U.S. Congress adopts a surface transportation act — Congress’s authorization to spend tax dollars on highways, streets, roads, transit and other transportation related projects.
The majority of Surface Transportation Authorization Act funding flows to the states, and in California these funds are administered by Caltrans. However, Caltrans assigns a significant portion of two of the programs, the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) to MTC to be used at their own discretion, subject to federal regulations.
MTC develops policies and requirements associated with the programming of STP and CMAQ funds and delegates the management of the program, at the county level, to CMAs. CMAs perform the project solicitations, selection, and programming in the county.