(B) the construction of railroad bypasses 
and spurs; 
(C) the construction of railroad side 
tracks; 
(D) the expansion of rail and highway tun-
nels to accommodate larger, taller, and addi-
tional volumes of vehicular and rail freight and 
container stacks; 
(E) the addition of railroad track and 
intermodal facilities at international gateways, 
land, air, and sea ports, points of congestion, 
and logistic centers; 
(F) highway and road construction (includ-
ing reinforcement for heavy weight vehicles and 
heavy traffic volume) at international gateways, 
land, air, and sea ports, points of congestion, 
and logistic centers to better accommodate and 
speed the flow of freight traffic; 
(G) the construction and improvement of 
rail and highway bridges that carry a substan-
tial amount of freight; 
(H) the construction of highway ramps 
that carry a substantial amount of freight; and 
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(I) the construction of highway lanes, in-
cluding lanes that segregate freight and pas-
senger vehicular traffic. 
(b) PROJECT REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may 
approve a grant under this title for a project only if the 
Secretary determines that the project— 
(1) will improve freight mobility and national 
freight capacity and efficiency; 
(2) is cost-effective; 
(3) is based on the results of preliminary engi-
neering; 
(4) is justified based on extent to which the 
project— 
(A) will enhance national and regional 
economies by allowing for economic develop-
ment, growth, and efficiency as measured by— 
(i) the impact on the Nation’s gross 
domestic product; 
(ii) increases in new businesses and 
jobs and retention of existing businesses 
and jobs; 
(iii) State and local tax receipts; and 
(iv) improved safety as measured by 
reductions in accidents, injuries, and fatali-
ties; and 
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(B) seeks to maximize economic opportuni-
ties for communities; and 
(5) is supported by an acceptable degree of non- 
Federal financial commitments, as determined under 
subsection (d). 
(c) SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting a 
project under this title, the Secretary shall consider the 
extent to which the project— 
(1) improves freight mobility and national 
freight capacity and efficiency; 
(2) is cost effective; 
(3) complements and supports the objectives of 
a strategic freight plan to be developed by the State 
or designated entity in accordance with such require-
ments as the Secretary may prescribe; 
(4) facilitates freight throughput of higher vol-
ume and values; 
(5) uses operational efficiencies, including intel-
ligent transportation systems, that enhance the effi-
ciency or effectiveness (or both) of the project; 
(6) enhances national and regional economies 
by allowing for economic development, growth, and 
efficiency; 
(7) helps maintain or protect the environment; 
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(8) improves safety as measured by reductions 
in accidents, injuries, and fatalities; and 
(9) is supported by an acceptable degree of non- 
Federal financial commitments, as determined under 
subsection (d). 
(d) NON-FEDERAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.— 
(1) REQUIREMENTS.—In evaluating a project 
under this section, the Secretary shall require that— 
(A) the proposed project plan provides for 
the availability of contingency amounts that the 
Secretary determines to be reasonable to cover 
unanticipated cost increases; and 
(B) each proposed non-Federal source of 
capital and operating financing is stable, reli-
able, and available within the proposed project 
timetable. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In assessing the sta-
bility, reliability, and availability of proposed sources 
of non-Federal financing under paragraph (1)(B), 
the Secretary shall consider— 
(A) existing financial commitments; 
(B) the degree to which financing sources 
are dedicated to the purposes proposed; 
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(C) any debt obligation that exists or is 
proposed by the recipient for the proposed 
project; and 
(D) the extent to which the project has a 
non-Federal financial commitment that exceeds 
the required non-Federal share of the cost of 
the project. 
(e) PROJECT EVALUATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A proposed project may ad-
vance from preliminary engineering to final design 
and construction only if the Secretary finds that the 
project meets the requirements of this section and 
there is a reasonable likelihood that the project will 
continue to meet such requirements. 
(2) EVALUATION
AND
RATING.—In making 
such findings, the Secretary shall evaluate and rate 
the 
project 
as 
‘‘highly 
recommended’’, 
‘‘rec-
ommended’’, or ‘‘not recommended’’ based on the re-
sults of preliminary engineering, the project selection 
considerations, and the degree of non-Federal finan-
cial commitment, as required under this title. In rat-
ing the projects, the Secretary shall provide, in addi-
tion to the overall project rating, individual ratings 
for each of the project selection considerations. 
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