Title 49TransportationRelease 119-73

§5565 Encouraging the development of plans for converting certain rail passenger terminals

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - GENERAL AND INTERMODAL PROGRAMS › Chapter CHAPTER 55— - INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - TERMINALS › § 5565

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation may give grants to people or government agencies to pay for plans to convert certain rail passenger terminals. To get a grant, applicants must prepare practical plans that follow state and local land‑use and zoning rules, include features likely to attract private investors to build and run the project, and finish the plans by a deadline the Secretary sets. Preference goes to projects that will be built within 3 years after the plans are done. Grants should favor terminals kept in public use, especially those on the National Register of Historic Places or recommended by preservation authorities. A grant may pay no more than 80 percent of a project’s total cost.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §5565

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Transportation may make a grant of financial assistance to a qualified person (including a governmental authority) to encourage the development of plans for converting a rail passenger terminal under section 5562(a)(4) of this title. To receive assistance under this section, the person must—
(1)be prepared to develop practicable plans that meet zoning, land use, and other requirements of the applicable State and local jurisdictions in which the terminal is located;
(2)incorporate into the designs and plans proposed for converting the terminal, features that reasonably appear likely to attract private investors willing to carry out the planned conversion and its subsequent maintenance and operation; and
(3)complete the designs and plans for the conversion within the period of time prescribed by the Secretary.
(b)In making a grant under this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall give preferential consideration to an applicant whose completed designs and plans will be carried out within 3 years after their completion.
(c)(1)Amounts appropriated to carry out this section and section 5562(a)(4) of this title shall be expended in the way most likely to maximize the conversion and continued public use of rail passenger terminals that are—
(A)listed in the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(B)recommended (on the basis of architectural integrity and quality) by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation or the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.
(2)The Secretary of Transportation may not make a grant under this section for more than 80 percent of the total cost of the project for which the financial assistance is provided.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272 Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5565(a)49 App.:1653(i)(5) (1st sentence).Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, 80 Stat. 931, § 4(i)(5); added Oct. 28, 1974, Pub. L. 93–496, §§ 6, 15, 88 Stat. 1529, 1533; Feb. 5, 1976, Pub. L. 94–210, § 707(3), 90 Stat. 125; Oct. 5, 1978, Pub. L. 95–421, § 14, 92 Stat. 929; Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. L. 96–73, § 128, 93 Stat. 553; May 30, 1980, Pub. L. 96–254, § 206(a), 94 Stat. 412. 5565(b)49 App.:1653(i)(5) (2d sentence). 5565(c)49 App.:1653(i)(5) (3d, last sentences). In subsection (a), before clause (1), the word “authority” is substituted for “entity” for consistency in the revised title. The words “in accordance with

Regulations

” are omitted as unnecessary because of 49:322(a). In clause (1), the words “as well as requirements . . . under this subsection” are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement. In clause (2), the words “into an intermodal transportation terminal, a civic or cultural center, or both” are omitted as unnecessary. In clause (3), the word “prescribed” is substituted for “establishes” as being more appropriate. In subsection (b), the words “carried out” are substituted for “implemented and effectuated” for consistency in the revised title. In subsection (c)(2), the words “The Secretary of Transportation may not make a grant” are substituted for “The amount of the Federal share of any grant . . . shall not exceed” for clarity and consistency in this chapter. The word “undertaking” is omitted as being included in “project”. Pub. L. 103–429This amends 49:5565 to correct an erroneous section catchline.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–429 inserted “certain” after “converting” in section catchline.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–429 effective July 5, 1994, see section 9 of Pub. L. 103–429, set out as a note under section 321 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 5565

Title 49Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73