eligible entity
(4) Access to funds.— (A) Eligible entity defined .— In this paragraph, the term “eligible entity” means— (i) a local government; (ii) a regional transportation authority; (iii) a transit agency; (iv) a natural resource or public land agency; (v) a school district, local education agency, or school; (vi) a tribal government; (vii) a metropolitan planning organization that serves an urbanized area with a population of 200,000 or fewer; (viii) a nonprofit entity; (ix) any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for or oversight of transportation or recreational trails (other than a metropolitan planning organization that serves an urbanized area with a population of over 200,000 or a State agency) that the State determines to be eligible, consistent with the goals of this subsection; and (x) a State, at the request of an entity described in clauses (i) through (ix). (B) Competitive process .— A State or metropolitan planning organization required to obligate funds in accordance with paragraph (2) shall develop a competitive process to allow eligible entities to submit projects for funding that achieve the objectives of this subsection. (C) Selection .— A metropolitan planning organization for an area described in subsection (d)(1)(A)(i) shall select projects under the competitive process described in subparagraph (B) in consultation with the relevant State. (D) Prioritization .— The competitive process described in subparagraph (B) shall include prioritization of project location and impact in high-need areas as defined by the State, such as low-income, transit-dependent, rural, or other areas.