Code of Federal Regulations Title 49. Transportation § 49.80.15 Selection criteria

(1) The extent to which the project is nationally or regionally significant, in terms of generating economic benefits, supporting international commerce, or otherwise enhancing the national transportation system (20 percent);

(2) The creditworthiness of the project, including a determination by the Secretary that any financing for the project has appropriate security features, such as a rate covenant, to ensure repayment (12.5 percent);

(3) The extent to which such assistance would foster innovative public-private partnerships and attract private debt or equity investment (20 percent);

(4) The likelihood that such assistance would enable the project to proceed at an earlier date than the project would otherwise be able to proceed (12.5 percent);

(5) The extent to which the project uses new technologies, including Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), that enhance the efficiency of the project (5 percent);

(6) The amount of budget authority required to fund the Federal credit instrument made available (5 percent);

(7) The extent to which the project helps maintain or protect the environment (20 percent);  and

(8) The extent to which such assistance would reduce the contribution of Federal grant assistance to the project (5 percent).