Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-102

§493 Use of Railroad Bridges by Other Railroad Companies

Title 33 › CHAPTER 11 — BRIDGES OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 493

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Railroad companies wanting to use bridges built under sections 491–494 and 495–498 must have equal access if they pay reasonable fees. Disputes are decided by the Secretary of Transportation after a hearing.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §493

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

All railroad companies desiring the use of any railroad bridge built in accordance with the provisions of sections 491 to 494 and 495 to 498 of this title, shall be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains or cars over the same and over the approaches thereto upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case of any disagreement between the parties in regard to the terms of such use or the sums to be paid all matters at issue shall be determined by the Secretary of Transportation upon hearing the allegations and proofs submitted to him.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1983—Pub. L. 97–449 substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of War”. See

Transfer of Functions

note below.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of the Army [formerly War] and other offices and officers of Department of the Army [formerly War] under this section to extent that they relate generally to location and clearances of bridges and causeways in navigable waters of United States transferred to and vested in Secretary of Transportation by Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(g)(6)(B), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 941. Pub. L. 97–449 amended this section to reflect transfer made by section 6(g)(6)(B) of Pub. L. 89–670, and repealed section 6(g)(6)(B).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 493

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102