ODOT annually sub allocates FHWA capital (construction) budgets to each Ohio MPO and to the four (4) large cities, outside MPO areas, with populations between 25,000 and 50,000 persons.  The large cities are Findlay, Lancaster, Marion, and Zanesville.  The budgets are comprised of three separate federal fund types, Surface Transportation Program (STP), Transportation Enhancement Program (TE), and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ).  Each MPO and Large City is budgeted an annual STP allocation.  Each MPO also receives annual TE allocations totaling 10% of its STP budget.  Note, a few small MPOs have opted to discontinue receiving annual TE budgets and instead participate in the statewide TE program.  MPOs within US EPA designated air quality areas also receive annual CMAQ budgets. 

The MPOs and Large Cities are Program Managers for these funds.  As Program Managers, the MPOs and Cities are responsible for establishing and monitoring the development and implementation of a multi-year program of local government sponsored transportation system improvement projects within the available programmatic budgets.  Projects are to address identified system needs and are to result in measurable improvements to local transportation network conditions.

Eligible Activities

STP funding is eligible for a wide variety of multimodal maintenance, operations, and new construction projects.  Enhancement funds are eligible for projects that “enhance” the historical, cultural, scenic, and pedestrian/bicycle components of transportation systems.  CMAQ funding is limited to specific US EPA designated air quality areas, for projects that will result in reductions in transportation related pollutants.

Funding Provisions

The standard Federal participation rate for STP, TE, and CMAQ program projects is eighty percent.  Local government project sponsors are generally responsible for providing twenty percent matching funds.  Certain project types, as defined in Title 23 Section 120(c), are eligible for one hundred percent federal funding participation.  MPOs are to establish written policies documenting administration of these funds, specific to their respective areas.  A typical policy addresses the MPO’s project solicitation, ranking, and prioritization processes and funding practices.

Program Management Responsibilities