The City of Bakersfield is eligible to apply for and receive federal funding for air quality improvement projects through a competitive program called Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ), which is included in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (Map-21) legislation. In order to qualify for federal funds, projects must be eligible, chosen, and finally programmed in the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP). The FTIP is a federal document which is administered by the Kern Council of Governments (KernCOG). To start the process of placing projects onto the FTIP, KernCOG issues a "Call for Projects" every two years.

Recently, KernCOG issued the Call for Projects for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 Federal Fiscal Years. Proposed projects for these two Federal Fiscal Years include:

• 2024/2025: Adaptive Signal Coordination and Fiber Optic Cable Installation along Ming Avenue between Highway-99 Northbound ramps and S. P Street (Wards 1&2), Adaptive Signal Coordination and Fiber Optic Cable Installation along Calloway between Olive Drive and Rosedale Highway (Ward 4), Adaptive Signal Coordination and Fiber Optic Cable Installation along Panama Lane between Parsons Way and Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd (Ward 1), 'H' Street Corridor Improvements between SR 58 and SR 204 (Wards 2&3), Chester Avenue Corridor Improvements from Brundage Lane to Truxtun Avenue (Ward 2).

• 2025/2026: Adaptive Signal Coordination and Fiber Optic Cable Installation along Panama Lane between Gosford and Akers (Wards 6&7), Adaptive Signal Coordination and Fiber Optic Cable Installation along Ashe Road between Panama Lane and Club View Drive (Wards 6&7), and Arvin-Edison Canal Multi-Use Path (Wards 4,5,6,&7), South 'H' Canal Multi-Use Path (Wards 1&2), Kern River Crossing at 24th Street (Ward 3), 18th and 19th Street Corridor Improvements from 'L' St to 'O' St (Ward 2)

Applications for the above referenced projects are due to KernCOG by July 17, 2023. These applications must include a resolution adopted by the City Council committing to fund the required local match if our projects are chosen.

The resolution assures KernCOG that the City of Bakersfield will fund the required local match for the CMAQ projects that are chosen. Historically, gas tax revenues have been used to fund the local match requirements. The local match requirement is 11.47% of total project costs. Projects typically funded through the CMAQ program include roundabouts, signal interconnect/synchronization, and roadway improvement projects that reduce congestion.