The Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program is a federal transportation funding source for projects that preserve and improve the conditions and performance of highways, bridges, and public roads; pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; and transit capital projects.
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program is a federal transportation funding source for projects and programs that reduce traffic and improve air quality for areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, carbon monoxide or particulate matter (nonattainment areas) and for former nonattainment areas that are now in compliance (maintenance areas).
SCAG is responsible for the project selection process for STBG and CMAQ funds in the region. The SCAG STBG/CMAQ Program Guidelines outline the process and procedures for the calls for project nominations and project selection.
Eligible applicants for SCAG-administered STBG/CMAQ calls for project nominations include SCAG cities, counties, transit agencies, federally recognized Tribal governments, and county transportation commissions.
Contact
Questions regarding STBG and CMAQ funding should be directed to:
Heidi Busslinger
Principal Planner, Integrated Planning and Programming
busslinger@scag.ca.gov
Denise Sifford
Senior Regional Planner, Integrated Planning and Programming
sifford@scag.ca.gov
Federal Fiscal Years 2026-2027 & 2027-2028 Call for Project Nominations
The STBG/CMAQ SCAG online application is now open for all eligible applicants.
From March 31 to May 16, eligible applicants in the SCAG region can submit project nominations to receive a portion of an estimated $1.2 billion in federal funding. The SCAG Federal Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and Federal Fiscal Year 2027-2028 STBG/CMAQ Program Guidelines, approved by the SCAG Regional Council on March 6, 2025, outline the process and procedures for the calls for project nominations and project selection. All interested applicants are encouraged to coordinate with their respective county transportation commissions to ensure alignment with local priorities.
SUBMIT APPLICATION
To assist with the application process, SCAG is offering office hours for applicants to ask questions and receive guidance. Use SCAG’s online registration form to secure a 25-minute time slot. SCAG has also prepared an “Application Guidebook” and a fillable application template available for download to assist applicants in navigating the online application. Contact the listed SCAG or county transportation commission staff for more information and additional resources to support applications.
SCAG’s STBG/CMAQ Program Priorities
In addition to incorporating all federal requirements in the STBG/CMAQ project selection process, SCAG also developed program guidelines with the goal of advancing the implementation of Connect SoCal 2024.
The primary program categories represent project types that SCAG has determined to be a priority for the SCAG region based on consistency with Connect SoCal 2024 goals and strategies, consistency with the 2024-25 SCAG presidential and Regional Council priorities, and with consideration of recent wildfires in Southern California.
Tier 1 Regional Priorities
- Clean Transportation
- Climate Resilience of At-Risk Infrastructure
- Transit and Multimodal Integration
- Transportation Demand Management
- Transportation System Management and Goods Movement
Tier 2 Regional Priorities
- Complete Streets
- Natural Lands Preservation
- System Preservation
Supplemental resources on SCAG-led efforts, including regional and local plans, studies, assessments, and technical reports in each of these critical program areas, are linked below.
Program Schedule (Subject to Change)
| Activity |
Date |
| Program Guidelines Adoption |
March 6, 2025, SCAG Regional Council Meeting |
SCAG Hosted Program Workshops
Workshop Presentation |
March 12, 2025 – Virtual
March 18, 2025 – Virtual |
| County Transportation Commission Hosted Program Workshops |
Orange County – March 19, 2025
Los Angeles County – March 24, 2025
Riverside County – March 24, 2025
Ventura County – March 25, 2025
Imperial County – March 27, 2025
San Bernardino County -
Additional Information Available via County Transportation Commission Contact |
| Applicant Office Hours |
Available Upon Request
Register Here |
| Project Nomination Online Applications Opens for Submittal |
March 31, 2025 |
| Project Nomination Online Application Due Date |
May 16, 2025, at 5 p.m. |
County Transportation Commission Contacts
For more information regarding the county transportation commission project prioritization framework and scoring or county-specific workshop, please refer to the website and contact information for your county below:
Application Resources
2023-2026 AWARD RECIPIENTS
The 2023-2026 STBG/CMAQ Call for Project Nominations has been completed. On June 6, 2024, the SCAG Regional Council approved 2023-2026 STBG/CMAQ funding recommendations for $186.9 million across 33 projects within the SCAG region. In addition to the full list of 33 projects, the SCAG Regional Council also approved a contingency list of projects estimated at $101 million.
Projects approved by SCAG for STBG/CMAQ funding must be programmed in the Federal Transportation Improvement Program.
Imperial County
- City of Brawley. Western Avenue Improvement Project ($599,000)
- City of El Centro. Right of Way Utility Relocations Project, Phase IV ($520,000)
- City of Imperial. P Street Rehabilitation Project, Phase I ($519,000)
- City of Imperial. Aten Boulevard Sidewalk Installation Project, Phase III ($144,000)
- City of Imperial. Aten Boulevard Sidewalk Installation Project, Phase I ($132,000)
- City of Imperial. Aten Boulevard Sidewalk Installation Project, Phase II ($112,000)
Los Angeles County
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. SR-91 Atlantic to Cherry Improvements Project ($24,333,000)
- Los Angeles County. South Whittier Community Bikeway Access Improvement Project ($17,060,021)
- San Gabriel Valley Council of Government. La Verne A Line Transit Oriented Development Pedestrian Bridge Project ($16,000,000)
- Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). Exposition II West Bikeways Project ($13,279,500)
- City of Culver City. Jefferson Enhanced Transit Service Project ($9,530,321)
- City of Glendale. City of Glendale Electrification of Beeline Bus Fleet and Maintenance ($7,680,000)
- City of Long Beach. Studebaker Corridor Complete Streets Project ($5,000,000)
- LADOT. Mid-City Low Stress Bicycle Enhancement Corridors ($1,810,419)
Orange County
- City of Huntington Beach. Banning Avenue Roundabout & Southeast Corridor Complete Streets Improvements ($5,000,000)
- City of Irvine. Venta Spur Trail & Jeffrey Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge ($5,000,000)
- City of Fullerton. Harbor Boulevard Complete Streets Planning Study ($4,854,000)
- City of Mission Viejo. Mission Viejo Quad Cities Trail ($4,787,200)
- City of Irvine. Harvard Avenue Complete Streets and Safety Improvements ($4,312,000)
- City of Laguna Niguel. South Forbes Road Oso Creek Trail Active Transportation Enhancements ($3,415,000)
- City of Tustin. Main Street Enhancement Project ($3,172,000)
- City of Orange. Riverdale Avenue Complete Streets Improvements ($2,573,000)
- City of Buena Park. Orangethorpe Avenue Complete Streets Planning Study ($308,000)
Riverside County
- Riverside County Transportation Commission. I-15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension ($18,700,000)
- Coachella Valley Association of Governments. Addressing Climate Change, Emergencies, and Sandstorms ($7,589,150)
- SunLine Transit Agency. SunLine Hydrogen Fueling Station – Division III ($1,210,850)
San Bernardino County
- San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. I-10 Corridor Freight and Managed Lane Project ($23,000,000)
Ventura County
- Ventura County Transportation Commission. Santa Paula Branch Line Trail Master Plan Update and EIR-EIS ($1,600,000)
- City of Camarillo. Pleasant Valley Road Bike Lanes Class II ($1,500,000)
- City of Thousand Oaks. Lynn Road Class IV Bike Lanes and Pedestrian Improvements ($1,350,000)
- Gold Coast Transit District. Ventura Road Demonstration Route ($1,300,000)
- Ventura County Transportation Commission. Ventura County Community Traffic Calming and Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program ($300,000)
- Ventura County Transportation Commission. Countywide Community Outreach for Public Transit ($171,000)
