Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program is a federally funded program administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to fund transportation projects that reduce emissions of criteria pollutants and help to improve air quality in areas identified as nonattainment or maintenance areas. It includes efforts to enhance public transit, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, ridesharing programs and facilities, and technologies that improve traffic flow and vehicle emissions.

Pursuant to 23 U.S. Code § 149, transportation projects that fall into one of the following three broad categories are eligible for CMAQ funding:

  • ​Projects that reduce the number of vehicle trips and/or vehicle miles traveled (VMT),
  • Projects that reduce emissions related to traffic congestion, and/or
  • Projects that reduce the per-mile rate of vehicle emissions through improved vehicle and fuel technologies.

The project must be a transportation project located in or benefit a nonattainment or maintenance area that generates an emissions reduction. Eligible projects should take place and produce results in Wisconsin air quality nonattainment and maintenance areas in the following counties: 

          • ​Door
          • Kenosha​
          • Kewaunee
          • Manitowoc​​
          • Milwaukee
          • Ozaukee
        • ​​Racine
        • Sheboygan
        • Walworth
        • Washington
        • Waukesha 

​The Department solicits applications every other year. WisDOT is currently soliciting applications for the 2026-2030 funding cycle.  

2026-2030 Solicitation Timeline

  • ​​Project solicitation opens: June 6, 2025
  • Application deadline: September 8, 2025, 5:00 PM – submitted electronically
  • Technical Assessment Timeline: October - December 2025
  • Review Committee Begins: January – March 2026
  • Awards Approved and Announced: April – June 2026

2026-2030 Solicitation Documents

2025-2028 Supplemental Program Cycle

The technical assessment and committee review occurred earlier in 2025, and WisDOT is in the process of finalizing awards. WisDOT anticipates notifying recipients and announcing the program cycle awardees in early Summer 2025.

Previous ​​Awards

Change Management

Related Information

Regional local program contacts

Southeast Region

Tyler Beinlich
tyler.beinlich@dot.wi.gov
Phone: (262) 548-5856

Northeast Region​

Kelsey Lorenz
kelsey.lorenz@dot.wi.gov​​
Phone: (920) 492-0142

Statewide program contact

Stephanie Mertens
stephanie.mertens@dot.wi.gov
Phone: ​(608) 266-9507


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