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‘‘(ii) bicyclists; and 
‘‘(iii) users of nonvehicular rail and 
public transportation, including intercity 
and commuter rail; and 
‘‘(F) 
whether 
a 
project 
improves 
connectivity between modes of transportation 
moving persons or goods nationally or region-
ally. 
‘‘(4) RATINGS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In evaluating applica-
tions for a grant under the program, the Sec-
retary shall assign the project proposed in the 
application a rating described in subparagraph 
(B), based on the information contained in the 
applicable notice published under paragraph (5). 
‘‘(B) RATINGS.— 
‘‘(i) 
HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED.—The 
Secretary shall assign a rating of ‘highly 
recommended’ to projects that, in the deter-
mination of the Secretary— 
‘‘(I) are exemplary projects of na-
tional or regional significance; and 
‘‘(II) would provide significant 
public benefit, as determined based on 
the applicable criteria described in this
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subsection, if funded under the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(ii) RECOMMENDED.—The Secretary 
shall assign a rating of ‘recommended’ to 
projects that, in the determination of the 
Secretary— 
‘‘(I) are of national or regional 
significance; and 
‘‘(II) would provide public benefit, 
as determined based on the applicable 
criteria described in this subsection, if 
funded under the program. 
‘‘(iii) NOT RECOMMENDED.—The Sec-
retary shall assign a rating of ‘not rec-
ommended’ to projects that, in the deter-
mination of the Secretary, should not re-
ceive a grant under the program, based on 
the applicable criteria described in this sub-
section. 
‘‘(C) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—On request of an 
eligible entity that submitted an application 
under subsection (c) for a project that is not 
selected to receive a grant under the pro-
gram, the Secretary shall provide to the eli-
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gible entity technical assistance and brief-
ings relating to the project. 
‘‘(ii) TREATMENT.—Technical assist-
ance provided under this subparagraph 
shall not be considered a guarantee of future 
selection of the applicable project under the 
program. 
‘‘(5) PUBLICATION OF PROJECT EVALUATION AND 
SELECTION CRITERIA.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this chapter, the Secretary 
shall publish and make publicly available on the 
website of the Department a notice that contains a de-
tailed explanation of— 
‘‘(A) the method by which the Secretary will 
determine whether a project satisfies the applica-
ble requirements described in paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) any additional ratings the Secretary 
may assign to determine the means by which a 
project addresses the selection criteria and addi-
tional considerations described in paragraphs (2) 
and (3); and 
‘‘(C) the means by which the project re-
quirements and ratings referred to in subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) will be used to assign an
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overall rating for the project under paragraph 
(4). 
‘‘(6) PROJECT SELECTION PRIORITY.—In award-
ing grants under the program, the Secretary shall 
give priority to projects to which the Secretary has 
assigned a rating of ‘highly recommended’ under 
paragraph (4)(B)(i). 
‘‘(g) DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.— 
‘‘(1) PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity seek-
ing a grant under the program shall submit to 
the Secretary, together with the grant applica-
tion, a plan for the collection and analysis of 
data to identify in accordance with the frame-
work established under paragraph (2)— 
‘‘(i) the impacts of the project; and 
‘‘(ii) the accuracy of any forecast pre-
pared during the development phase of the 
project and included in the grant applica-
tion. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—A plan under subpara-
graph (A) shall include— 
‘‘(i) an approach to measuring— 
‘‘(I) the criteria described in sub-
section (f)(2); and
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‘‘(II) if applicable, the additional 
requirements described in subsection 
(f)(3); 
‘‘(ii) an approach for analyzing the 
consistency of predicted project characteris-
tics with actual outcomes; and 
‘‘(iii) any other elements that the Sec-
retary determines to be necessary. 
‘‘(2) FRAMEWORK.—The Secretary may publish 
a standardized framework for the contents of the 
plans under paragraph (1), which may include, as 
appropriate— 
‘‘(A) standardized forecasting and measure-
ment approaches; 
‘‘(B) data storage system requirements; and 
‘‘(C) any other requirements the Secretary 
determines to be necessary to carry out this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(3) MULTIYEAR
GRANT
AGREEMENTS.—The 
Secretary shall require an eligible entity, as a condi-
tion of receiving funding pursuant to a multiyear 
grant agreement under the program, to collect addi-
tional data to measure the impacts of the project and 
to accurately track improvements made by the project,