New Jersey § 32:36-2

having an identical effect to L.2019, c. 195, § 2 . > Gateway Development Commission. a. Legislative findings and intent. The Legislature finds and declares that: the state of New Jersey and the state

of New York and their respective citizens share a common concern to preserve the functionality

and strengthen the resiliency of long-distance and commuter rail infrastructure between

New Jersey and New York, including passenger rail infrastructure owned, controlled,

or utilized by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, also known as “Amtrak”;

the two states and their respective citizens share the benefits of existing interstate

passenger rail infrastructure between the two states, including the existing North

River Tunnels; interstate passenger rail service and infrastructure is vital to the

economies of New Jersey and New York; that, because of the passage of time and damage

caused by natural disasters, both states recognize the existing interstate passenger

rail infrastructure, including the existing North River Tunnels, is at risk of system

failures that could result in prolonged service disruptions that would severely damage

the economies of the two states and many other participants in the economy of the

Northeast Corridor; both states recognize the urgent need to undertake projects necessary

to create passenger rail capacity under the Hudson River, rehabilitate passenger rail

infrastructure, maintain current levels of long-distance and commuter rail service

between the two states and provide additional reliability, safety and security; the

citizens of both states will share the benefits of expanded capacity and rehabilitated

passenger rail infrastructure between the two states; and there has been a long history

of cooperation among state and local governmental entities, Amtrak, and various private

organizations and individuals in the two states to ensure the preservation of a variety

of passenger rail service options. b. The legislature therefore determines that there is a need to endorse and formalize

that bi-state cooperative effort to help ensure that the functionality of long-distance

and commuter rail infrastructure between New Jersey and New York and thence throughout

the Northeast Corridor, is preserved and maintained for the benefit of the economy

of New Jersey and New York and for the well-being of present and future generations

of citizens in both states; and that the creation of a bi-state commission that shall

be a body corporate and politic established by the state of New Jersey and the state

of New York, acting in the public interest and exercising essential governmental functions,

is an appropriate means to accomplish these very important goals and is not intended

to impair, limit, diminish, or otherwise affect any right, power, or jurisdiction

of the United States of America or any department, branch, agency, court, bureau,

or other instrumentality thereof with respect to any matter, or grant or confer any

right or power on such bi-state commission, or any officer or trustee thereof, to

regulate commerce between the states. c. It is the intention of the legislature that the commission so created constitute

an institution which has been established by the states to effectuate a public purpose

and is therefore eligible to apply for financial assistance from the United States

government, including the agencies thereof.