---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 5563"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "5563"
heading: "Conversion of certain rail passenger terminals"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/5563"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — General and Intermodal Programs"
  - "Chapter 55 — Intermodal Transportation"
  - "Subchapter II — Terminals"
---

# §5563. Conversion of certain rail passenger terminals

- (a) **Authority To Provide Assistance.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) of Transportation may provide financial assistance to convert a rail passenger terminal to an [intermodal transportation](/usc/49/5901.md?p=7) terminal under [section 5562(a)(1) of this title](/usc/49/5562.md?p=a-1) only if—
  - (1) the terminal can be converted to accommodate other modes of transportation the [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) of Transportation decides are appropriate, including—
    - (A) motorbus transportation;
    - (B) mass [transit](/usc/49/5302.md?p=22) (rail or rubber tire); and
    - (C) airline ticket offices and passenger terminals providing direct transportation to area airports;
  - (2) the terminal is listed on the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) of the Interior;
  - (3) the architectural integrity of the terminal will be preserved;
  - (4) to the extent practicable, the use of the terminal facilities for transportation may be combined with use of those facilities for other civic and cultural activities, especially when another activity is recommended by—
    - (A) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation;
    - (B) the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts; or
    - (C) consultants retained under [subsection (b)](#b) of this section; and
  - (5) the terminal and the conversion project meet other criteria prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) of Transportation after consultation with the Council and Chairman.
- (b) **Architectural Integrity.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) of Transportation must employ consultants on whether the architectural integrity of the rail passenger terminal will be preserved under [subsection (a)(3)](#a-3) of this section. The [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) may decide that the architectural integrity will be preserved only if the consultants concur. The Council and Chairman shall recommend consultants to be employed by the [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11). The consultants also may make recommendations referred to in [subsection (a)(4)](#a-4) of this section.
- (c) **Government’s Share of Costs.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) of Transportation may not make a grant under this section for more than 80 percent of the total cost of converting a rail passenger terminal into an [intermodal transportation](/usc/49/5901.md?p=7) terminal.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(d), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 851.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 5563(a), (b) | 49 App.:1653(i)(2) (1st sentence). | Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, 80 Stat. 931, § 4(i)(2); added Oct. 28, 1974, Pub. L. 93–496, §§ 6, 15, 88 Stat. 1528, 1533; May 26, 1975, Pub. L. 94–25, § 13, 89 Stat. 93; Oct. 5, 1978, Pub. L. 95–421, § 14, 92 Stat. 929. |
| 5563(c) | 49 App.:1653(i)(2) (last sentence). |  |

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “to convert a rail passenger terminal to an intermodal transportation terminal under section 5562(a)(1) of this title” are substituted for “for the purpose set forth in paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection” for clarity and because of the restatement. In clause (5), the word “prescribed” is substituted for “develop and promulgate” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

Subsection (b) is substituted for “and such judgment is concurred in by consultants recommended by the Chairman of the National Endowment of [sic] the Arts and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and retained for this purpose by the Secretary” for clarity and consistency in the revised title.