32:3-1. Preamble; agreement

The New Jersey Interstate Bridge Commission, existing by virtue of chapter 271 of the Laws of New Jersey of 1929, approved May 6, 1929, and acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, is hereby authorized to enter into a compact or agreement on behalf of the state of New Jersey with the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in substantially the following form, that is to say:

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

CREATING THE DELAWARE RIVER JOINT COMMISSION AS A BODY CORPORATE AND POLITIC AND DEFINING ITS POWERS AND DUTIES

Whereas, The commonwealth of Pennsylvania and he [the] state of New Jersey are the owners of a certain bridge across the Delaware river between the city of Philadelphia in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the city of Camden in the state of New Jersey; and

Whereas, The Pennsylvania commission, existing by virtue of Act No. 338 of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, approved July 9, 1919 (Pamphlet Laws 814), and acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, and the New Jersey Interstate Bridge Commission, existing by virtue of chapter 271 of the Laws of New Jersey of 1929, and acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, are acting jointly under the name of the Delaware River Bridge Joint Commission in connection with the operation and maintenance of said bridge; and

Whereas, The interests of the people of the two states will be best served by consolidating the two commissions in corporate form and granting additional powers and authority thereto with reference to the said bridge and to other and further means of communication between the two states in the vicinity of Philadelphia and Camden; and

Whereas, Additional transportation facilities between the two states in the vicinity of Philadelphia and that part of New Jersey opposite thereto will be required in future for the accommodation of the public and the development of both states; and

Whereas, Both states have mutual interests in the development of the Delaware river from Philadelphia and Camden to the sea and particularly in developing the facilities and promoting the more extensive use of the ports of Philadelphia and Camden by coastwise, intercoastal and foreign vessels; and

Whereas, It is highly desirable that there be a single agency of both states empowered to further the aforesaid interests of both states:

Now, Therefore, The commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the state of New Jersey do hereby solemnly covenant and agree each with the other, as follows: