A public transit infrastructure grant fund is established within the department. Moneys in the fund shall be awarded to public transit systems within the state for construction and infrastructure projects that meet the definition of “vertical infrastructure” in section 8.57, subsection 5, paragraph “c”. The fund shall consist of appropriations made to the fund and transfers of interest, earnings, and moneys from other funds as provided by law. In awarding grant assistance, the office of public transit within the department shall, by rule, specify certain criteria that must be included in a grant application, which shall include but not be limited to information on the feasibility of completion of an individual infrastructure project. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the public transit infrastructure grant fund shall not revert to the fund from which they are appropriated but shall remain available indefinitely for expenditure under this section.