; (iii) safety benefits, including the reduction of accidents and related costs; (iv) improved person or freight throughput, including congestion reduction and reliability improvements; (v) national and regional economic benefits; (vi) resilience benefits; (vii) environmental benefits, including reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and air quality benefits; and (viii) benefits to all users of the project, including pedestrian, bicycle, nonvehicular, railroad, and public transportation users. (C) How the benefits compare to the costs of the project. (D) The average number of people or volume of freight, as applicable, supported by the project. (2) Additional considerations In awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary shall also consider the following: (A) Whether the project serves an area of persistent poverty. (B) Whether the project uses innovative technologies, innovative design and construction techniques, or pavement materials that demonstrate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through sequestration or innovative manufacturing processes and, if so, the degree to which such technologies, techniques, or materials are used. (C) Whether the project improves connectivity between modes of transportation moving people or goods in the Nation or region. (D) Whether the project provides new or improved connections between at least 2 metropolitan areas with a population of at least 500,000. (i) Project selection (1) Evaluation To evaluate applications for funding under this section, the Secretary shall— (A) determine whether a project is eligible for a grant under this section; (B) evaluate, through a methodology that is discernible and transparent to the public, how each application addresses the merit criteria pursuant to subsection (h); (C) assign a quality rating for each merit criteria for each application based on the evaluation in subparagraph (B)