What Is The Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program?
The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) called for a ten percent designated share of all Surface Transportation Program funds to be used for Transportation Enhancement Activities. The intent of the program is to afford an opportunity to develop "livable communities" by selecting projects that preserve the historic culture of the transportation system and/or enhance the operation of the system for its users. The 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21) continued the Transportation Enhancement Program and expanded the eligible use of funds. Also, visit the National Transportation Enhancement Clearinghouse website for more information.

The following activities are eligible if such activities relate to Surface Transportation:

• Provision of facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians
• Provision of safety and educational activities for bicyclists and pedestrians
• Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites
• Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities)
• Landscaping and other scenic beautification
• Historic preservation
• Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals)
• Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion for use as bicycle paths and pedestrian facilities)
• Control and removal of outdoor advertising
• Archaeological planning and research
• Environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity
• Establishment of transportation museums

Also, visit the National Transportation Enhancement Clearinghouse website for more information.

What Is The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program?
The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) established the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ), substantially expanding the focus and purpose of Federal transportation funding and programs to address air quality. CMAQ specifically provides assistance for air quality improvement and congestion mitigation projects in urbanized areas which have been identified as nonattainment. The program continued under the current Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century, or TEA-21.

Eligible projects or programs for the use of CMAQ funds include those which would result in an air quality benefit and are likely to contribute to the attainment of national ambient air quality standards. Typical items eligible for funding under this category are:

• Alternative "Clean" Fuels: For CMAQ purposes an "alternative" fuel must reduce emissions to be eligible. These fuels can include natural gas, ethanol, methanol, electricity, hydrogen, bio-diesel and liquified propane gas. Under TEA-21, eligibility can even extend to private companies.
  
• Demand Management: Employer trip reduction programs, transportation management plans, flexible work schedule programs, vehicle restriction programs, etc.
  
• Education and Outreach: To increase public knowledge of transportation related emissions and opportunities to reduce them.
  
• Extreme cold start programs
  
• Highway/Road: Traffic flow improvements, signalization projects, intersection improvements and construction or dedication of HOV lanes, ITS efforts, etc.
  
• Inspection/Maintenance Programs: (I/M) and Traffic control measures (TCMs) (not covered by the above categories)
  
• Other Ride-Share: Vanpool and carpool programs, and parking for shared-ride services, etc.
  
• Pedestrian/Bicycle: Sidewalks, trails, storage facilities, promotional activities, etc.
  
• Transit: Construction, equipment or operating expenses for new and improved services for a maximum of three years, parking for transit services, etc.

Although the projects in any of the above categories are eligible, past projects selected have shown that the CMAQ Advisory Committee favor projects with higher Air Quality benefits.

Also, visit the Federal Highway Administration's CMAQ Program website for more information.