Pennsylvania Act 1927-426 — DELAWARE RIVER BRIDGE COMMISSION

Act text

DELAWARE RIVER BRIDGE COMMISSION
                  Act of May 6, 1927, P.L. 846, No. 426               Cl. 36
                                  AN ACT

     Constituting a commission to act with a similar commission of
        the State of New Jersey for the purpose of reconstructing the
        bridge over the Delaware River from Morrisville to New
        Jersey; defining the powers and duties of the joint
        commission; and making an appropriation.

        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That the commission
     constituted under the act, approved the eighth day of May, one
     thousand nine hundred and nineteen (Pamphlet Laws, one hundred
     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, 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 reconstruction of the bridge across the Delaware River from
     Morrisville, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to Trenton, in
     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 joint commission is hereby authorized and
     empowered to have prepared the necessary and proper plans and
     specifications for the reconstruction of said bridge, and to
     determine the size, type, and method of construction thereof; to
     plan and to make all necessary estimates of the probable cost of
     its reconstruction; and to enter into necessary contracts to
     build and equip the said bridge and the approaches thereto; 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 3.  All proceedings for the exercise of the right of
     eminent domain in the Commonwealth in connection with the re-
     erection of such bridge 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 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.
        Section 4.  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 5.  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
     reconstruction of the approaches and the structure of said
     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 6.  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 7.  The said joint commission, in its discretion, is
     hereby authorized and empowered to provide and equip said 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 8.  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
     said bridge.
        Section 9.  Said 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.