(2) To qualify for a matching grant an applicant shall:

(a) Demonstrate that a project fits within the applicable plan developed pursuant to ORS 195.115;

(b) Provide a cash match of at least 40 percent of the project’s costs; and

(c) Provide any other information required by the commission.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, the commission may reduce the amount the applicant must provide for a cash match. An applicant providing a reduced cash match shall provide at least 20 percent of the project’s costs. This subsection applies if:

(a) The school is located in a city with a population of 5,000 or fewer;

(b) The project reduces hazards within a safety corridor, as defined by the commission by rule; or

(c) The school site qualifies for assistance under Chapter I of Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

(4) The commission shall prioritize the expenditure of funds as authorized under this section for projects that are located within a one-mile radius of a school that serves students in prekindergarten, kindergarten or grades 1 through 8, or any combination of those grade levels, or a school that serves students in kindergarten through grade 12.

(5) The matching grants shall be used to reduce barriers and hazards to children walking or bicycling to and from school, including but not limited to safety improvement projects that:

(a) Improve sidewalks;

(b) Reduce vehicle speeds;

(c) Improve pedestrian and bicycle crossings; or

(d) Create or improve bicycle lanes.

(6) The commission may adopt rules specifying the application process and the selection criteria that will be used in awarding matching grants. [2017 c.750 §123]