Pennsylvania Act 1927-441 — 1919 ACT 102, P.L. 148 - SUPPLEMENT TO

Act text

1919 ACT 102, P.L. 148 - SUPPLEMENT TO
                  Act of May 10, 1927, P.L. 863, No. 441              Cl. 36
                               A SUPPLEMENT

     To an act, approved the eighth day of May, one thousand nine
        hundred and nineteen (Pamphlet Laws, one hundred and forty-
        eight), entitled "An act providing for the joint acquisition
        and maintenance by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the
        State of New Jersey of certain toll bridges over the Delaware
        River," and its amendments, extending the powers of the
        commission created under said act so as to provide for the
        construction and maintenance of free bridges.

        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That the commission
     constituted under the act to which this act is a supplement, and
     its amendments, for the acquisition of toll bridges over the
     Delaware River between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the
     State of New Jersey, is hereby constituted a commission to act
     in conjunction with a similar commission or body of the State of
     New Jersey, for the purpose of providing for the erection and
     construction of additional bridges across the Delaware River
     between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New
     Jersey.
        The phrase "joint commission" as used in this act, shall be
     construed to mean the commission hereby constituted and the
     similar commission or body of the State of New Jersey.
        Section 2.  The said joint commission is hereby authorized
     and empowered to appoint a treasurer, who may or may not be a
     member of said joint commission, a secretary, and such
     engineering, architectural, and construction experts,
     inspectors, and other employes, as in the opinion of the joint
     commission may be necessary, all of whom shall do such work as
     the joint commission shall direct. The joint commission shall
     fix the compensation of the respective persons so appointed.
        Section 3.  The joint commission is hereby authorized and
     empowered to have prepared the necessary and proper plans and
     specifications for the construction of any bridge across the
     Delaware River as shall be decided upon, and to select the
     location for the same, determine the size, type, and method of
     construction thereof; to plan and fix its boundaries and the
     approaches thereto and to make all necessary estimates of the
     probable cost of its construction and the acquisition of ground
     for its site and approaches; to proceed to acquire the ground
     for the sites of the abutments and the approaches to such bridge
     in the manner hereinafter provided; to enter into necessary
     contracts to build and equip any such bridge and the approaches
     thereto; to obtain such consent as may be necessary of the
     Government of the United States and the approval of the
     Secretary of War; and to cause a survey and map to be made of
     all lands, structures, rights of way, franchises, easements, and
     other interests in land lying within the Commonwealth, including
     lands under water and riparian land owned by any person,
     corporation, or municipality, the acquisition of which may be
     deemed necessary for the construction of such bridge and to
     cause such maps and surveys to be filed in its office.
        Section 4.  All proceedings for the exercise of the right of
     eminent domain in the Commonwealth in connection with the
     erection of such bridge and the acquisition of sites for the
     approaches thereto shall be had in the manner provided by said
     act approved the eighth day of May, one thousand nine hundred
     and nineteen (Pamphlet Laws, one hundred and forty-eight),
     entitled "An act providing for the joint acquisition and
     maintenance by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of
     New Jersey of certain toll-bridges over the Delaware River," for
     the acquisition of interstate toll bridges over the Delaware
     River between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of
     New Jersey, to which this act is a supplement.
        Section 5.  The said joint commission shall not proceed to
     exercise or carry out any authority or power herein or hereby
     given it to bind the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, beyond the
     extent to which the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall have
     appropriated or made available to said joint commission the
     moneys herein appropriated as the share of the Commonwealth of
     Pennsylvania. Said moneys contributed or made available by the
     Commonwealth shall be disbursed to said joint commission by the
     State Treasurer on warrants to be drawn by the joint commission
     on the Auditor General and payable on vouchers submitted to him
     by the joint commission.
        Section 6.  The said joint commission shall not proceed to
     exercise or carry out any authority or power herein or hereby
     given until the State of New Jersey, by appropriate legislation,
     shall fix and vest like powers in said joint commission, and
     make an appropriation to said joint commission equal to the
     appropriation made by this Commonwealth for providing the cost
     of acquiring the land for the approaches to and for the erection
     and construction of the approaches and the structure of any such
     bridge. Said money to be appropriated or made available by said
     State to be payable to said joint commission upon warrants drawn
     by said joint commission when duly signed by the proper fiscal
     officer of the State of New Jersey.
        Section 7.  All contracts or contract let by the joint
     commission shall provide for payments as the work advances, but
     the total payments to the contractor or contractors at any time
     before the final completion and acceptance of the work
     contracted for shall not exceed ninety per centum of the cost of
     the work done under any contract.
        Section 8.  The said joint commission, in its discretion, is
     hereby authorized and empowered to provide and equip any such
     bridge, and the approaches appurtenant thereto, with such
     conduits, pipes, supplies, and other appliances, as may be
     necessary or convenient for the installation, maintenance, and
     operation of telegraph, telephone, electric light or power, and
     other public service facilities, and to enter into leases or
     contracts with public service companies to install such
     facilities and for the maintenance, operation and use thereof,
     and to fix, collect, and receive suitable charges, rents,
     rentals or tolls for the privilege of leasing, operating, using
     or maintaining such facilities.
        Section 9.  The said joint commission is hereby authorized
     and empowered, in its discretion, to provide for and regulate
     the operation of motor busses or similar vehicles on or across
     any such bridge.
        Section 10.  Any such bridge, upon its completion, shall be
     maintained, repaired, and operated in the same manner as
     interstate toll-bridges between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     and the State of New Jersey heretofore acquired are now by law
     maintained, repaired, and operated.