CRAG executive committee approves emergency TIP amendment to preserve $44 million in NEVI funds

The CRAG executive committee approved an emergency amendment to its Transportation Improvement Program on March 11 to allow Connecticut to obligate $44 million in federal funding for electric-vehicle chargers under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.

Staff and regional planners said the vote was prompted by a notice from the U.S. Department of Transportation proposing a modification to Buy America waiver terms for EV chargers. ‘‘There is no equipment available that is 100% American-made for electric vehicles,’’ Rob said, describing a proposed shift from the current 55% domestic component threshold to a 100% requirement if funds are not obligated by a deadline. He said the proposed change could make it impossible to obligate the remaining NEVI dollars unless the state moves quickly.

Matt Hart, who presented the item to the committee, said the DOT needed the package submitted to FHWA by Friday and asked the executive committee—authorized under bylaws to act for the policy board—to approve the amendment because of the tight timetable. A DOT representative on the call confirmed the urgency and urged the committee to act to avoid losing the funding.

A committee member moved approval and Steve Spano seconded. The chair called the question and the motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded opposition. Committee members noted one operational concern—that members of the transportation committee would have appreciated more advance notice of the amendment—but nevertheless approved the emergency action so the state could meet federal submittal deadlines.

Staff said the amendment would increase federal obligations for the NEVI program by roughly $44 million, part of a total package valued at approximately $63 million when state and local matches are included; roughly $7.9 million had already been obligated, staff said. The funds are intended primarily for chargers sited along interstate exits in the region, including locations in Hartford and adjacent municipalities.

The committee’s vote instructs staff to transmit the amendment so the Connecticut DOT can submit the statewide package to FHWA. No formal amendments to the motion were recorded and no roll-call vote was included in the minutes; staff characterized the action as an emergency step to preserve federal funds.

What happens next: CRAG staff will forward the approved amendment to the Connecticut DOT for inclusion in the FHWA submittal. If FHWA does not accept the requested flexibility in Buy America waivers or if the federal rule is finalized as proposed without a short-term exemption, staff warned that some projects could lose eligibility for the NEVI funds.