28:2-32. Findings, declarations regarding railroad, transportation museum

1. The Legislature finds and declares:

a. New Jersey has long been disadvantaged by the absence of an official historical exhibit site and institution for its large transportation artifacts. As a result, our State's artifacts have been collected by transportation museums in neighboring states supported by state and federal funds. Tourism, as well as museum volunteer labor, has also "migrated" out of the State to follow these artifacts.

b. Pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1993, c.209 (C.52:16A-46), as amended by P.L.1997, c.50, the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Museum Commission, authorized pursuant to an appropriation of $357,000 in Fiscal Year 2000, has developed a master plan for the proposed railroad and transportation museum, prepared by the firm of Wallace Roberts and Todd in May 2000. The master plan examines the establishment of the museum in the town of Phillipsburg, Warren County, with the development of a satellite facility in the borough of Netcong, Morris County and including the feasibility of rail excursions between Netcong and Phillipsburg.

c. Pursuant to the master plan, the commission, in a report issued in September 2000, recommends to the Governor, the Legislature and the Department of Transportation that the final site for the museum be principally located in the town of Phillipsburg, Warren County, with a satellite location in the borough of Netcong, Morris County. The commission recommends that the museum be called the "New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center."

d. It is in the public interest for the Legislature to establish the location and final site of the New Jersey transportation and railroad museum in the town of Phillipsburg, Warren County, with a satellite facility in the borough of Netcong, Morris County, the museum to be called the "New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center."

L.2001, c.113,s.1.