32:3-2. Delaware River Port Authority, purposes, functions

32:3-2. The body corporate and politic, heretofore created and known as the Delaware River Joint Commission hereby is continued under the name of the Delaware River Port Authority (hereinafter in this agreement called the "commission" ), which shall constitute the public corporate instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey for the following public purposes, and which shall be deemed to be exercising an essential governmental function in effectuating such purposes, to wit:

(a) The operation and maintenance of the bridge, owned jointly by the two States, 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, including its approaches, and the making of additions and improvements thereto.

(b) The effectuation, establishment, construction, acquisition, operation and maintenance of railroad or other facilities for the transportation of passengers across any bridge or tunnel owned or controlled by the commission, including extensions of such railroad or other facilities necessary for efficient operation in the Port District.

(c) The improvement and development of the Port District for port purposes by or through the acquisition, construction, maintenance or operation of any and all projects for the improvement and development of the Port District for port purposes, or directly related thereto, either directly by purchase, lease or contract, or by lease or agreement with any other public or private body or corporation or in any other manner.

(d) Co-operation with all other bodies interested or concerned with, or affected by the promotion, development or use of the Delaware river and the Port District.

(e) The procurement from the Government of the United States of any consents which may be requisite to enable any project within its powers to be carried forward.

(f) The construction, acquisition, operation and maintenance of other bridges and tunnels across or under the Delaware river, between the city of Philadelphia or the county of Delaware in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey, including approaches and the making of additions and improvements thereto.

(g) The promotion as a highway of commerce of the Delaware river, and the promotion of increased passenger and freight commerce on the Delaware river and for such purpose the publication of literature and the adoption of any other means as may be deemed appropriate.

(h) To study and make recommendations to the proper authorities for the improvement of terminal, lighterage, wharfage, warehouse and other facilities necessary for the promotion of commerce on the Delaware river.

(i) Institution through its counsel, or such other counsel as it shall designate, or intervention in, any litigation involving rates, preferences, rebates or other matters vital to the interest of the Port District; provided, that notice of any such institution of or intervention in litigation shall be given promptly to the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey, and provision for such notices shall be made in a resolution authorizing any such intervention or litigation and shall be incorporated in the minutes of the commission.

(j) The establishment, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction and operation of a rapid transit system for the transportation of passengers, express, mail, and baggage, or any of them, between points in New Jersey within the Port District and points in Pennsylvania within the Port District, and intermediate points. Such system may be established either by utilizing existing rapid transit systems, railroad facilities, highways and bridges within the territory involved or by the construction or provision of new rail facilities where deemed necessary, and may be established either directly by purchase, lease or contract, or by lease or agreement with any other public or private body or corporation, or in any other manner.

(k) The performance of such other functions which may be of mutual benefit to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey insofar as concerns the promotion and development of the Port District for port purposes and the use of its facilities by commercial vessels.

(l) The performance or effectuation of such additional bridge, tunnel, railroad, rapid transit, transportation, transportation facility, terminal, terminal facility, and port improvement and development purposes within the Port District as may hereafter be delegated to or imposed upon it by the action of either State concurred in by legislation of the other.

(m) The unification of the ports of the Delaware river through (i) the acquisition or taking control of any terminal, terminal facility, transportation facility or marine terminal or port facility or associated property within the Port District through purchase, lease or otherwise, or by the acquisition, merger, becoming the successor to or entering into contracts, agreements or partnerships with any other port corporation, port authority or port related entity which is located within the Port District, all in accordance with the applicable laws of the State in which the facility, corporation or authority is located; (ii) the exercise of the other powers granted by this compact; or (iii) the establishment (whether solely or jointly with any other entity or entities) of such subsidiary corporation or corporations or maritime or port advisory committees as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate this purpose.

(n) The planning, financing, development, acquisition, construction, purchase, lease, maintenance, marketing, improvement and operation of any project, including but not limited to any terminal, terminal facility, transportation facility, or any other facility of commerce or economic development activity; from funds available after appropriate allocation for maintenance of bridge and other capital facilities.

Amended 1951,c.288,s.1(1); 1963,c.92,ss.1(1),2-8; 1971,c.122,ss.1-3; 1991,c.515,s.2.