Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program
SOURCE: Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT)
PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
To fund highway/street, transit, freight, or trail projects or programs which help maintain clean air quality by reducing transportation-related emissions. Eligible highway/street projects must be on the federal-aid system, which includes all federal functional class routes except local and rural minor collectors. The ICAAP is funded
with federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
The state, a county, or a city may sponsor as an applicant or may co-sponsor for private, non-profit organizations and individuals. Transit systems may apply directly.
FUNDING CRITERIA
- A local match of at least 20% is required.
- Eligible projects will fall into one of the following categories:
- Those which reduce emissions via traffic flow improvements.
- Those which reduce vehicle miles of travel.
- Those which reduce single-occupant vehicle trips.
- Other transportation improvement projects which improve air quality or reduce congestion.
- Net operating costs of new transit services are eligible for up to 3 years (at 80% federal/20% local participation)
TYPE OF SUBMITTAL REQUIRED
Application forms must be submitted with emission reduction calculations. ICAAP projects will be evaluated on a statewide competitive application basis by a committee using a range of points assigned to the following criteria: Congestion Relief/Traffic Flow Improvement 0-25 points; VMT and SOV Reduction 0-25 points; Emission Reduction Estimate 0-20 points; Assistance to an Area that is Experiencing some Degree of Air Quality Problem 0-15 points; Cost-effectiveness in relation to Air Quality Benefits 0-30 points. Project sponsor must provide certification of the local match requirement and future maintenance of the project. MPO or RPA certification of
project conformity with the transportation planning process and regional transportation plan is also required. In addition, the applicant is required to provide a cost-effectiveness calculation ($/kg of emission reductions), which requires an itemized cost estimate for the project and the annualized cost of items identified in the cost estimate.
GRANT AMOUNT
Minimum $20,000 total project cost.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
October 1 (Check website for future availability of program.)
ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION
April 1 (with funds available the following October)
SPECIAL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
HIGHWAY PROJECTS:
- Project contracts must be led by Iowa DOT.
- FHWA environmental concurrence is required.
- Right-of-way activities must comply with applicable federal and state laws.
- An Iowa licensed professional engineer must prepare plans and specifications.
- If federal-aid dollars are used for a consulting engineer, the “Federal-Aid Consultant Selection Process” must be used.
- Iowa DOT design criteria should be used for the appropriate road classification.
- Approval by the Iowa DOT of plans and specifications is required.
- Compliance with regulations regarding Federal Equal Employment Opportunity, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Federal Wage Rates (Davis-Bacon).
- Materials testing, construction inspection, and final project acceptance is required to be done according to Iowa DOT procedure
TRANSIT PROJECTS:
- Capital improvements require adherence to approved transit procurement procedures and equipment specifications.
- Project candidates must be part of an approved 5-year Capital Improvement Program.
- Federally funded projects must comply with requirements regarding civil rights protections, use of disadvantaged business enterprises, competitive procurement, bus testing, pre- and post-procurement audits, and drug and alcohol testing
TYPE OF APPROVAL REQUIRED
- Iowa DOT staff recommendation with Iowa Transportation Commission approval.
- Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) must include selected projects. Regional Planning Affiliation (RPA)/Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) must also include selected projects in their respective Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP).
- The FHWA and FTA give final approval of the STIP
- The FHWA must authorize projects prior to proceeding with work or advertising the project for receipt of bids.
- Transit projects must be approved by the FTA as part of either a direct or a statewide grant
MORE INFORMATION/APPLICATIONS
Submit the completed application and all attachments by October 1 to:
Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program
Office of Systems Planning
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010.
If there are questions, contact:
Debra Arp at 515- 239-1681
Debra.Arp@dot.iowa.gov
Applications available at
http://www.sysplan.dot.state.ia.us/icaap.htm