N.J. Stat. tit. 32, ch. 9

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-1 Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, New Jersey membership; appointment, terms

32:9-1. The commission of the State of New Jersey, created by the act entitled "An act authorizing the acquisition and maintaining by the State of New Jersey, in conjunction with the State of Pennsylvania, of toll bridges across the Delaware river, and providing for free travel across the same," approved April 1, 1912 (L.1912, c.297, p.527), as amended and supplemented, is continued. The commission shall consist of seven members as follows: the Commissioner of Transportation and the State Treasurer, who shall serve ex officio, and five public members none of whom shall serve concurrently in an elected state or federal office and who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for terms of three years. The terms of the public members shall terminate as follows: a. Two in 1938, and every 3 years thereafter. b. One in 1939, and every 3 years thereafter. c. Two in 1940, and every 3 years thereafter. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, no member of the commission shall be deemed to have forfeited nor shall forfeit the member's office or employment or any benefits or emolument thereof by reason of the member's service as an ex officio member of the commission. Amended 1969,c.198; 1994,c.175.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-2 Acquisition of toll bridges by joint commission; division of cost

The commission of the state of New Jersey, acting in conjunction with a similar board or commission of the state of Pennsylvania as a joint commission, may acquire the toll bridges crossing the Delaware river and the rights, franchises and property including the immediate approaches thereto, of the several bridge companies, corporations, stock companies, partnerships or persons owning and operating such bridges between this state and the state of Pennsylvania, except such as are owned by steam or electric railways or railroads and used exclusively for railway or railroad purposes, such acquisition to be either by purchase or to be had and effected by the state of New Jersey under and by virtue of its rights of eminent domain as set forth in this chapter. One-half of the cost of the properties so acquired and of the cost of acquiring the same shall be paid by this state and one-half of such cost shall be paid by the state of Pennsylvania, including the allowance for the then present value of the franchise or right to operate any such bridge.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-3 Method of acquisition

The joint commission shall acquire such properties either by purchase or by condemnation proceedings as the joint commission shall deem expedient, and according to and as is provided in the enactments of the respective states.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-4 Determination of cost of property to be acquired including franchises

The joint commission shall sit as may be deemed expedient in order to determine the cost of the properties to be acquired, including the franchise incident thereto, situated in this state and the state of Pennsylvania, and also to determine any compensation to be allowed, as of the time of entry upon and taking possession of the property, for the value of the property, franchises, easements or rights in the two states. The franchise shall be estimated on its present value as incident to the property and not upon estimated future receipts from toll charge.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-5 Right of entry

If the compensation to be paid for such properties shall not be agreed upon, the joint commission, having given at least sixty days' notice to the owners of the lands and parties in interest of its intention so to do, shall enter upon and take possession of the lands in the name of this state. Such entry and possession shall entitle the joint commission to the exclusive use and right of possession of the property for the purposes set forth in this chapter.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-6 Meeting to view property; notice

The joint commission shall appoint a time, not less than twenty nor more than thirty days therefrom, when they shall meet upon the property and view the same and the premises affected thereby. It shall give at least ten days' personal notice of the time and place of the first meeting to the attorney general of this state, and to the president, secretary or director of any corporation or stock company or to any partnership or person affected, if a resident of this state, and if not, by advertisement for two consecutive weeks in two newspapers published in the county in which the bridge is located and by handbills posted upon the premises.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-7 Hearing and estimate of damages

The joint commission, having viewed the premises or examined the property, shall hear all parties interested and their witnesses, and shall estimate the value of the property taken, including any easements, rights or franchises incident thereto as well as the damages for property taken, injured or destroyed, and shall state to whom the damages are payable.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-8 Filing of report; notice

Within ten days thereafter the joint commission shall file in the office of the clerk of the county in which the land or other property so taken is situated, to remain of record therein, a written report thereof under the hands of the joint commission or a majority of them, together with a plan showing the location of the bridge or bridges so taken and the names of the corporation, stock company, partnership or persons to whom the compensation or damages are payable. Within ten days after the filing of the report, personal notice thereof shall be given to the owners and parties in interest, if resident in this state, and if not, by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the bridge is located.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-9 Proceeding to have compensation and damages fixed; costs and expenses

At any time within thirty days after the filing of the report by the joint commission, any party aggrieved may apply to the Superior Court in a proceeding in lieu of prerogative writ to have the amount of the compensation and damages fixed and paid. The costs, fees and expenses of the proceeding shall be paid as the court shall direct. Amended by L.1953, c. 31, p. 564, s. 9.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-10 Title in fee to property acquired to vest in state

The final compensation awarded or adjudged shall be deemed to include all amounts payable for the acquisition of the property and all rights, franchises and easements incident thereto, and when paid to the proper parties in interest, or paid into the Superior Court, shall vest the title in fee to the property so taken in the State of New Jersey. Amended by L.1953, c. 31, p. 564, s. 10.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-11 Equal division of final awards, costs and expenses

The sum of the total final awards of compensation and all court costs in both states, including advertisements and the expenses of the joint commission, incurred in the proceedings aforesaid, shall be defrayed by the respective states in equal proportions.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-12 Toll bridges acquired to be free to traveling public

Immediately upon the acquisition of, entry upon and taking possession of the bridge properties by the joint commission, the toll charges thereon shall cease and the bridges shall be free to the traveling public under such laws of the respective states and rules and regulations of the joint commission as may be prescribed.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-13 Use and rental of bridges by railroads

Any steam or passenger railroad or railway having in use and occupation any toll bridge acquired pursuant to this chapter, under a lease or agreement with a corporation, stock company, partnership or person owning the bridge, shall pay to the joint commission for the respective uses of this state and the state of Pennsylvania the rental, interest and charges in the same manner and proportions as they paid to such bridge corporation, company or owner as aforesaid, subject, however, to such change of charges or rentals as shall be made by the joint commission, subject to the approval of the public utility commission or other duly authorized and constituted body or bodies in the respective states.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-14 Equal payments of compensation, damages and costs to owners

The value of all bridge properties or interests therein acquired by the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania as prescribed in this chapter, and all damages and costs arising from the taking of the same as aforesaid, shall be paid by the two states to the owners of said bridges as their interests may appear, in equal proportions as the interests of the states may appear.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-15 Custody, maintenance and repair of bridges acquired

All bridges acquired pursuant to this chapter by this state jointly with the state of Pennsylvania, according as the bridges have a terminus in said states, respectively, shall be and remain in the charge and custody of any board or official that the respective governors of said states may designate. Such bridges and the immediate approaches thereto shall be maintained jointly by the two states in equal proportions, and shall be rebuilt, constructed, reconstructed and maintained and kept in constant repair and rebuilt when destroyed, and the expense incident thereto shall be borne equally by the two states; provided that appropriate concurrent legislation for the same purpose be enacted by the state of Pennsylvania.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-16 Deductions from motor vehicle receipts for maintenance and repair of bridges

The comptroller of the treasury is authorized to deduct from receipts of the motor vehicle department the amount appropriated for the maintenance and repair of bridges acquired under this chapter.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-17 Appropriation to commission of all moneys received by it; unexpended balances and receipts reappropriated

All moneys received from any source whatsoever by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission whether from rentals, miscellaneous receipts or from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for its proportion of the maintenance of the said bridges is hereby appropriated to the said commission to be used for the maintenance of bridges and the payment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of their proportion of the rentals and miscellaneous receipts. Any unexpended balance on June thirtieth, one thousand nine hundred and forty-six, including receipts from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and rental receipts are hereby reappropriated. L.1946, c. 298, p. 998, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 32:9-18 Effective date

This act shall take effect July first, one thousand nine hundred and forty-six. L.1946, c. 298, p. 999, s. 2.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026