(a) Application evaluation. The responsible division will review each program application for completeness and compliance with project eligibility requirements described in §25.502 of this subchapter. Applications that do not comply with these requirements or that are not received by the published deadline will not be evaluated.
(b) Project evaluation process.
  (1) The executive director or designee will appoint a project evaluation committee of department staff with expertise in bicycle safety, pedestrian safety, roadway safety, roadway design, traffic engineering, or other related fields to review, evaluate, and make recommendations on the proposals submitted for the program.
  (2) The department's Bicycle Advisory Committee, as created under §1.85 of this title (relating to department advisory committees), will also serve as a project evaluation committee to review, evaluate, and make recommendations on the proposals submitted for the program.
  (3) The project advisory committees will evaluate the proposals using the evaluation methodology developed by the responsible division administering the program.
  (4) The project advisory committees will provide their project selection recommendations and supporting documentation to the director of the responsible division administering the program.
  (5) The director of the responsible division administering the program will recommend a program of candidate projects for consideration by the commission.
(c) Selection criteria for infrastructure projects. Safe Routes to School applications for infrastructure projects meeting all requirements included in §25.502 will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:
  (1) identification of current and potential safe walking and bicycling routes to school;
  (2) the potential of the proposal to create a safer walking and bicycling built environment within two miles of a school;
  (3) the demonstrated need of the community and the children served;
  (4) identification of safety hazards;
  (5) the potential of the proposal to reduce child injuries and fatalities;
  (6) the potential of the proposal to encourage walking and bicycling among students;
  (7) support for the project by the community and interested parties;
  (8) identification of detailed construction costs;
  (9) compliance with design criteria established by the responsible division;
  (10) applications that demonstrate a link to an existing or planned comprehensive traffic safety plan; and
  (11) other factors relating to the proposed project deemed necessary to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety of children in and around school areas.
(d) Selection criteria for non-infrastructure projects. Safe Routes to School applications for non-infrastructure projects meeting all requirements included in §25.502 of this subchapter will be evaluated on the following selection criteria:
  (1) identification of the current and potential overall need for programs to encourage and promote walking and bicycling to the proposed project location;
  (2) identification of existing safety hazards and the need for a behavioral program to increase awareness of those issues;
  (3) the potential of the proposal to reduce child injuries and fatalities through education, enforcement, or other activities;
  (4) the potential of the proposal to encourage walking and bicycling among students;
  (5) support for the project by the community and interested parties;
  (6) a plan for evaluating the success of the project; and
  (7) other factors deemed necessary to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety of children in and around school areas.
(e) Commission approval. Approval by the commission will be based on the recommendations from the director of the responsible division administering the program, funding availability, the safety of the traveling public, the overall goals of the program, and safety in and around school areas.
(f) Approved projects. After approval by the commission, the department will notify applicants of the project selection status.
  (1) Approved infrastructure projects must comply with design, plan preparation, letting requirements, and other requirements established by the director of the responsible division.
  (2) Approved non-infrastructure projects must comply with the requirements established by the director of the responsible division included in the call for project proposals.

Source Note: The provisions of this §25.504 adopted to be effective July 18, 2002, 27 TexReg 6349; amended to be effective July 20, 2006, 31 TexReg 5668