Can a combination of CMAQ, TAP-L, and STP Shared funding be requested?
Yes. Applicants should indicate the requested fund source(s) by selecting each in the “Major Imp Group” field of the eTIP application. See the eTIP User Guide for more detailed instructions. Keep in mind that all federal funds must be matched with non-federal fund sources.
Will my project be considered for all fund sources (CMAQ, TAP-L, and STP Shared)?
No. Projects will not automatically be evaluated for all fund sources. In the past, bicycle facility applications were evaluated for both CMAQ and TAP. An applicant now will need to indicate the requested fund source(s) by selecting the choice(s) in the “Major Imp Group” field in the eTIP application. STP Shared fund applicants also will need to indicate the specific project type in the application workbook.
Can CMAQ, TAP-L, and STP Shared funds be combined with other federal funds, like the Highway Safety Improvement Program, on the same project?
Yes. But you still need to have the full amount of local match for all the federal funds. Federal funds, such as CMAQ, cannot be matched with another federal fund source. Always check state programmed funds to make sure they are not federal sources, such as Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) and Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS).
Can MFT and Rebuild Illinois bond funds be used for local match?
Yes.
Can private funds be used for local match?
Yes. Applicants should provide evidence of the commitment of private funds.
Is there a maximum award (dollars) for a single project, project phase, and/or sponsor?
The only limitation on the maximum award is the estimated total funding available in each federal fiscal year. While it is not the intent of CMAP or its selection committees to direct all available funds to a single project, there is no “per project” or “per sponsor” limit.
Will my project rank better if only construction funds are requested?
The total project cost, which includes all phases of the project, will be used for CMAQ and TAP-L cost/benefit analyses and for calculating the cost effectiveness for the “Improvement” portion of the score for STP Shared projects.
CMAQ and TAP-L projects, where the sponsor has shown commitment to the project by funding phases independently, will be noted for the Project Selection Committee's consideration.
STP Shared projects may receive more points in the "Financial Commitment" category when requesting only a portion of funds. See the STP Shared Fund application booklet for additional information.
Can one agency submit multiple applications?
Yes; however, an applicant should make sure that sufficient financial and staff resources are available to follow through on all selected projects.
My project has not received Design Approval because federal action is needed to approve NEPA documents and funds are not committed for subsequent phases. Does my project qualify as having phase 1 engineering “complete”?
No. You must have Design Approval (projects processed through IDOT) or a ROD, FONSI, or qualify as a "C-List" or "D-List" CE (for projects processed through FTA) to meet the definition of "Complete". However, the project may be considered "Nearly Complete" or "Substantially Complete". See the application booklets for additional details.
My project (being processed through IDOT) is scheduled for a federal coordination meeting on March 14, may I attach the meeting minutes to my application after the call for projects closes?
Yes. Meeting minutes from the March federal coordination meeting may be attached through Friday, March 17, 2023. This is the only exception to the acceptance of document attachments after the deadline.
If I forget to include some information, can I submit it after the deadline?
Significant effort is being made to ensure that applicants submit all of their information on time. The review by your Council/Conference Planning Liaison will help you identify any missing pieces. See the CMAQ/TAP application booklet and the STP Shared Fund application booklet for policies specific to these fund sources.
Who is the lead agency if my community works together with several neighboring jurisdictions to implement a joint corridor project?
It is up to those jurisdictions to develop some type of intergovernmental agreement or memorandum of understanding to ensure the respective commitment to the project, assign a lead agency, and clarify the funding shares and payment mechanism for the local match. For the engineering phases, IDOT will work with the identified lead agency on the agreements, project processing, and local match. You can decide whether it is best to bid the project in municipal segments or jointly for the whole corridor.
What if a sponsor is interested in a project, but is not in a position to apply during this call for projects; what is the next opportunity to apply?
CMAP intends to maintain a two-year cycle for program development, but that is dependent on congressional approval of new authorizing legislation and healthy budget appropriations. This timing is not as discouraging as it sounds because of "first ready, first funded" practices, i.e., once a project is programmed, it likely can be moved up when it is ready.
Should I include letters of support with my application and/or are letters of support required?
General letters of support are discouraged as they have no bearing on scoring or programming decisions. However, for projects with multiple partners (participating financially), a letter, resolution, or other document should be provided to document the financial participation. Likewise, if a sponsor is applying for a project on a facility over which they don’t have jurisdiction or won’t be the final implementing agency (such as a municipality applying for a project on a state road), evidence from the implementing agency (IDOT in the prior example) that verifies they are committed to implementing the project on the schedule proposed and in accordance with active program management requirements (for the STP Shared Fund), should also be provided.
My project is currently active in CMAP’s TIP - should I use the active TIP ID or the TIP ID assigned by eTIP when naming file attachments and completing my application workbook?
Please use the new TIP ID assigned to your eTIP application in all application materials and remember to add the existing TIP ID in the “Project is related to another project(s).” field in eTIP.
Where can I find more detailed information and application materials?
Visit the Regional Call for Projects web page: cmap.is/2023callforprojects.