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travel, such as auxiliary lanes, truck climbing lanes, or dedicated bicycle lanes. Project elements within the corridor plans may include improvements to state highways, local streets and roads, public transit facilities, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and restoration or preservation work that protects critical local habitat or open space.

2392. A regional transportation planning agency or county transportation commission or authority responsible for preparing a regional transportation improvement plan under Section 14527 of the Government Code or the department may nominate projects for funding through the program that are consistent with the policy objectives of the program as set forth in this chapter. The commission shall allocate no more than one-half of the funds available each year to projects nominated exclusively by the department. Preference shall be given to corridor plans that demonstrate that the plans and the specific project improvements to be undertaken are the result of collaboration between the department and local or regional partners that reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing congestion and quality-of-life issues within the affected corridor through investment in transportation and related environmental solutions. Collaboration between the partners may be demonstrated by a project being jointly nominated by both the regional agency and the department.

2393. A project nomination shall include documentation regarding the quantitative and qualitative measures validating the project’s consistency with the policy objectives of the program as set forth in this chapter. In addition to being included in a corridor plan, a nominated project shall also be included in the region’s regional transportation plan. Projects within the boundaries of a metropolitan planning organization must be included in an adopted regional transportation plan that includes a sustainable communities strategy determined by the State Air Resources Board to achieve the region’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

2394. The commission shall allocate program funds to projects after reviewing the corridor plans submitted by the regional agencies or the department and making a determination that a proposed project is consistent with the objectives of the corridor plan. In addition to making a consistency determination with respect to project nominations, the commission shall score the proposed projects on the following criteria:

(a) Safety.

(b) Congestion.

(c) Accessibility.

(d) Economic development and job creation and retention.

(e) Furtherance of state and federal ambient air standards and greenhouse gas emissions reduction standards pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38550) of the Health and Safety Code) and Senate Bill 375 (Chapter 728 of the Statutes of 2008).

(f) Efficient land use.

(g) Matching funds.

(h) Project deliverability.

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