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Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§22103 Applications

Title 49 › SUBTITLE V — RAIL PROGRAMS › PART B — ASSISTANCE › CHAPTER 221 — LOCAL RAIL FREIGHT ASSISTANCE › § 22103

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

States must apply to the Secretary of Transportation by January 1 of the fiscal year that has funding for projects in section 22101(a). If funding isn’t approved by that date, States have 90 days after approval to apply. Secretary sets form. Secretary considers five factors, including how much rail track is listed for abandonment; the benefit‑to‑cost using section 22101(b); whether the line will keep operating with help; and effects of bankruptcies, restructuring, or mergers.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §22103

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Filing.—
A State must file an application with the Secretary of Transportation for financial assistance for a project described under section 22101(a) of this title not later than January 1 of the fiscal year for which amounts have been appropriated. However, for a fiscal year for which the authorization of appropriations for assistance under this chapter has not been enacted by the first day of the fiscal year, the State must file the application not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of a law authorizing the appropriations for that fiscal year. The Secretary shall prescribe the form of the application.
(b)Considerations.—
In considering an application under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider the following:
(1)the percentage of rail lines that rail carriers have identified to the Surface Transportation Board for abandonment or potential abandonment in the State.
(2)the likelihood of future abandonments in the State.
(3)the ratio of benefits to costs for a proposed project calculated using the methodology established under section 22101(b) of this title.
(4)the likelihood that the rail line will continue operating with assistance.
(5)the impact of rail bankruptcies, rail restructuring, and rail mergers on the State.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 22103(a)49 App.:1654(f) (1st sentence).Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, 80 Stat. 931, § 5(f); added Feb. 5, 1976, Pub. L. 94–210, § 803, 90 Stat. 130; Nov. 8, 1978, Pub. L. 95–607, §§ 102–106(a), 107–109(a), 92 Stat. 3059, 3062; Oct. 12, 1979, Pub. L. 96–86, § 115(b), 93 Stat. 662; Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, §§ 1191, 1192, 95 Stat. 699; Jan. 14, 1983, Pub. L. 97–468, § 501, 96 Stat. 2551; Apr. 7, 1986, Pub. L. 99–272, § 4018, 100 Stat. 111; restated Dec. 11, 1989, Pub. L. 101–213, § 2(a), (c), 103 Stat. 1843, 1846. 22103(b)49 App.:1654(f) (last sentence). In subsection (a), the words “under this chapter” are added for clarity. The words “a law” are substituted for “legislation” for consistency in the revised title. In subsection (b)(3), the words “established by the Secretary” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(5), the words “applying for assistance” are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1995—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104–88 substituted “Surface Transportation Board” for “Interstate Commerce Commission”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1995 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–88 effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 1301 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 22103

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110