The commission may authorize the executive director to negotiate the financial terms of a potential pass-through agreement under this subchapter or, if the proposer is a private entity, authorize the department to solicit competitive proposals under §5.56 of this subchapter, after considering: (1) the proposer's proposed financial contribution to the project from sources other than the department, in relation to total project cost; (2) the geographic area affected; (3) local public support for the project; (4) for a highway project, whether the project is included in the department's Unified Transportation Program; (5) the extent to which the project will relieve congestion on the state highway system; (6) the potential safety benefit that may be derived from the project; (7) potential benefits to regional air quality that may be derived from the project; (8) the compatibility of the proposed project with existing and planned transportation facilities; (9) the extent to which the project will close gaps in the state transportation system; (10) whether the entity has or intends to designate a contiguous geographic area in the jurisdiction of the entity as a transportation reinvestment zone under Transportation Code, Chapter 222, Subchapter E, if the proposer is a public entity; (11) the proposer's proposed amount and period for department reimbursement and proposed pass-through payment schedule; (12) the economic development potential in the area; (13) the financial strength of the proposer; (14) whether the project is part of a hurricane evacuation route; (15) whether the project has application to a military base realignment or closure; (16) the experience of the proposer in developing similar transportation projects; and (17) the relationship of the proposed project to stated commission goals. |
